04/12/2008

Today sees Hungaricom’s high-profile release in Hungarian theatres of one of the most anticipated domestic films of the season: Krisztina Goda’s Chameleon [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

After the romantic comedy Just Sex and Nothing Else [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and the epic historical drama Children of Glory [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (presented at a special screening at the Berlinale) – which were the best-performing Hungarian titles of 2005 and 2006 (407,000 and 452,000 admissions respectively) – the 38-year-old director hopes to score a hat-trick with her noir thriller about manipulation, love and money. The cast includes Ervin Nagy (Szezon), Gabriella Hámori (Stop Mom Theresa), Sándor Csányi, János Kulka, Zsolt Trill and Zsolt László.

Co-written by the director and her usual collaborator, Reka Divinyi, Chameleon centres on Gabor, a dangerous young man who uses his numerous talents to seduce disillusioned women and systematically strip them of their money. Working as an office cleaner by night and carefully choosing his targets, this master of manipulation – capable of adopting multiple personalities – finds a job in a psychologists’ practice.

Here he meets Hanna, a 30-year-old dancer who dreams of returning to the stage after a serious injury and is also the daughter of a millionaire. Passing himself off as a doctor, Gabor offers his services to this lonely, desperate and vulnerable woman, winning her trust. She would be the ideal victim if love didn’t get in the way, as Gabor is confronted with an existential choice between love and money.

Produced by Gabor Kalomista for Megafilm, Chameleon was made for around €2m and received co-production backing from M&M Film. International sales are being handled by Hungaricom.

Goda’s feature was the first Hungarian title to be shot at the new Korda Film Studios in Etyek, which have otherwise specialised in big Hollywood productions such as Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

(Translated from French)