Netherlands Production Platform - Nederlands Film Festival

Istanbul
Új Budapest Filmstúdió
Hungary
Writer/director Ferenc Török
Producer László Kántor
Synopsis
Katalin is 55 when János, her husband of 30
years, leaves her for a new girlfriend, a 28-
year-old student of his. Her crisis is received
with indifference by friends and family. Her
25-year-old daughter, Zsofi, is completely
preoccupied with her own pregnancy, and
her teenage son, Zoli, cares only about himself.
The people around her consider her
mentally ill and she is taken to hospital,
where she is sedated.
Katalin, however, escapes from the hospital
and, on the spur of the moment,
decides to take to the road, hitchhiking.
Receiving news of her disappearance, the
family is anxious to get things under control.
They take extreme measures, go to the
police, and finally force the unwilling Zoli to
bring home his mother who has been
tracked down to Istanbul.
In Istanbul, Katalin has met up with a
lonely Turkish worker, Hamil (52). The man
likes Katalin for what she is, and does not
see her as a middle-aged woman who has
been left by her husband. Zoli’s sudden
appearance comes as a shock and, in the
heat of the moment, Katalin refuses to
acknowledge her son.
Zoli confronts his mother and Hamil in a
restaurant. He begs her to fly back to
Budapest with him the next day. Katalin
finally gives in to her son’s wishes and
leaves Hamil.
Mother and son spend the night in Katalin’s
hotel room, while Hamil is wide-awake
next door. Here, Zoli finally understands that,
if he forces the family’s will on his mother, her
mental state could deteriorate for real.
The family waits for Zoli and Katalin at
the airport. They even take the newborn
baby with them for the new grandmother to
see. But Zoli walks out of customs alone:
Katalin has stayed in Istanbul.
Director’s statement
The story is an ordinary one: a 55-year-old
woman’s husband leaves her after 30 years
of marriage. It is, however, a very personal
one, based on my mother’s crisis after her
separation from my father.
The storyline does not concentrate solely
on the personal drama of the main character.
Her family and background are a
decisive presence throughout. The dynamics
of the special emotional relationships
between the story’s various characters and
their day-to-day problems, lies and love
conflicts, provides the dramatic weave of
this story of parallels.
The visual atmosphere is defined by simplicity.
The camera remains in the background
throughout, like a fly on the wall,
allowing precise storytelling and empathetic
acting to remain the point of focus.
The most important questions the movie
raises are: Can an individual make independent
decisions despite family ties And
does anyone have the right to follow their
ego at the expense of others
12 • NPP 2008