Bálint Szimler’s Lesson Learned to be showcased in Locarno
- The Hungarian director’s first fiction feature film, funded wholly independently and primarily by Boddah and CineSuper, is set to world premiere in the Cineasti del Presente line-up
Having distinguished himself with his short film Here I Am (screened in the Cinéfondation competition in Cannes 2010 and nominated for the European Film Award) and his music documentary Balaton Method [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Hungarian director Bálint Szimler is due to unveil his first fiction feature, Lesson Learned [+see also:
film review
interview: Bálint Szimler
film profile], within the Cineasti del Presente section of the 77th Locarno Film Festival (running 7 – 17 August). The cast stars youngster Paul Mátis alongside Anna Mészöly (acclaimed in Comrade Drakulich [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Márk Bodzsár
film profile]), Ákos 'Dadan' Kovács, Inez Mátis and Gábor Ferenczi.
Written by the filmmaker, the story revolves around 33-year-old Juci and 10-year-old Palkó who are both new to a struggling school at a time of crisis in the Hungarian education system. Juci is unexpectedly appointed head teacher of a fifth-grade class due to a staff shortage. Palkó, meanwhile, having recently relocated from Berlin, is finding it hard to adapt to this demanding educational system. As Juci attempts to challenge outdated approaches and Palkó tries to fit in, a childish prank lands the latter in trouble, making life at school miserable for them both. These two personal stories offer insight into an oppressive system, which is a broader reflection of Hungarian society.
Lesson Learned is produced by Gábor Osváth on behalf of Boddah and by Zoltán Mártonffy for CineSuper, in co-production with Proton Cinema (Júlia Berkes and Viktória Petrányi), GoodKids (Patricia D’Intino), KMH Film (Ferenc Pusztai) and FocusFox (Gábor Ferenczy). Others involved in the film’s co-production include executive producers Gábor Kovács and Ági Pataki (Filmpartners), Ilona Antal, Ildikó Kemény and Eleonóra Peták (Pioneer Pictures), and László Dreissiger, Péter Juhász and Dániel Blik (235 Productions), while the movie’s associate producers are Miklós Kázmér and Ádám Felszeghy Ádám (Umbrella), together with Inez Mátis and Hermina Fátyol. Thanks to these 19 producers spread across ten companies, the film is 100% independently financed and is set to be distributed in Hungarian cinemas by Mozinet.
(Translated from French)
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