Movie Melting Pot…’Kontroll’ (Hungary, 2003)

Nimrod Antal’s debut film, ‘Kontroll’, is a darkly funny thriller that has more going on with it than your typical murder mystery.   It’s setting is the Budapest Metro, and the character involved are the ticket controller’s whose job it is to inspect that every rider has his or her ticket.   It’s main character, Bulcsu (Sandor Csanyi) is one such ticket inspector, one who seemingly lives down in the subway tunnels he works in.

Much of the film deals with Bulcsu’s day-to-day ritual of checking tickets, hanging out with his fellow inspectors, dealing with annoying passengers, and finding the love of a mysterious girl.   Thrown into the mix is a hooded killer who likes to push people in front of trains.

Antal had difficulty filming in the actual subway tunnels of Budapest for ‘Kontroll’.   There are trains constantly running through the tunnels, so filming was relegated to the middle of the night.

The basic premise of the film stemmed from an idea by Antal and the Hungarian rock band, Warpigs.   The idea was first used in their video of Szandal.   However, the band is not credited on ‘Kontroll’ in any way, shape, or form.

It took alot of convincing by the film’s producer to get permission from the Budapest Transport Authority (BKV) to even allow shooting to take place given the nature of the film and the way it’s characters were depicted.   In the end, the Transport Authority conceded to the film, given the film opened with a disclaimer by the BKV chairman and BKV employees could see the film for free.   Many felt the opening disclaimer was included for comedic purposes.

The film opened in Hungary on November 20, 2003.   It cost roughly $500,000 dollars to make, and made back $1.2 million worldwide.   That includes $237,000 from the US box office.   It’s release in the US was on April 1, 2005 on two screens.   It never hit more than six screens in its entire US run.

‘Kontroll’ was nominated for and won various awards including the Gold Hugo Best Film award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2004 and Award of Youth to Antal for his direction at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

‘Kontroll’ is a film that switches up its mood very rapidly.   One minute, it’s a dark horror film.   The next, it’s a slapstick comedy.   The comedy is what really keeps it from being better.   The humor, most of which isn’t very funny, bombards you.

However, the overall premise if very well crafted.   The idea that the entire film takes place down in the tunnels is a novel one.   The film is so stylish, and its characters are so well-written that it is a must see for any fan of foreign film.   The ambiguous ending is very metaphorical and very moving.

It shows up from time to time on the Sundance network, and it’s well worth a spot on your Tivo recordings. It is a very well done and entertaining debut film from a very gifted director.

Antal went on to direct ‘Vacancy’, the 2007 thriller starring Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson.   He is directing the 2009 film, ‘Armored’, starring Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, and Milo Ventimiglia about armored truck robbery.