This Hungarian film from 2019 is set in the period immediately after World War II, when many soldiers returned from the front or forced labor, or remained missing. The main character is a con artist who capitalizes on the uncertainty of families with missing relatives. He offers them false hope in exchange for money. When things go wrong, he flees and encounters a striking woman in the countryside. It is not a simple film, because themes such as coincidence, reality and fantasy, friendship and loyalty, sadism and victimhood are constantly intertwined and take surprising turns. For this reason, it is a comprehensible film in terms of content, which transcends the level of many modern films and invites reflection afterwards. The acting in the film is good and realistic, and the images are beautifully shot. On the other hand, the forced dull colors, verging on black and white, are unnecessary to convey the atmosphere of the time, the number of sets is limited, and the pace of the film is slow. This still makes it a memorable, strong, but not perfect film. I would like to see more European films rise above the level of pulp and be similar productions, with original, relevant themes and depth that justify more than one viewing.
