Democracy Noir & Kix

Two films about/from Hungary. “Democracy Noir” by Connie Field and “Kix” by Bálint Révész & Dávid Mikulán.

The first “Democracy Noir” is primarily informative with a lot of tv archive on Victor Orban, but also material shot during demonstrations in the streets and interviews at the homes of the three courageous female protagonists “opposition politician Timea, journalist Babett and nurse Nikoletta (Niko) – who fight tirelessly to expose the lies and corruption embedded in Orbán’s government. But they face a well-funded and sophisticated opposition in Orbán’s ultra-conservative Fidesz party, which has a strong influence on voters and has already changed key democratic constitutional laws to further cement one-party rule.” We knew it all about the disgusting Orban, from newspapers and tv but credit to the ambition to make this film and its subject easy to understand and therefore – I hope – sellable to public broadcasters. Except the Hungarian, of course, as this is controlled by the dictator as he is called in one of the clips from an EU meeting.

“Kix”, yes what is this, what is happening, is it going to be, as it is said in the festival catalogue “handheld skate video” the whole way through. No, it changes, as the protagonist Sanyi changes, he is followed over 10 years and he changes. It is a powerful portrait of him and his pals, his family and their poor living conditions, social problems, a heroic mother who has three jobs to feed the family, a grandmother who can analyze why this and that happens to Sanyi, not to forget the little sister. Lot of reflections on life, poetic rapping voice off; I was totally charmed by the intelligent boy and his growing up, having a girl friend… and then there is a twist at the end of the film. There is so much energy and presence in this film. Yes, let’s use the word Authenticity. Award tonight? I guess so!