A nyomozó (2008)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Attila Galambos

Writer:

Attila Galambos (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 October 2008 (Hungary)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Morgue | Murder

Awards:

6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Zsolt Anger	...	Malkáv
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
András Márton Baló	...	Mehtar ben Jaron
Péter Blaskó	...	Artúr Kertész
Csaba Czene	...	Köpcös
Kata Farkas	...	Business woman
Tamás Fodor	...	Antiquarian Bookseller
Zsuzsa Járó	...	Secretary
István Juhász	...	Schwartz, inspector
Ilona Kassai	...	Malkáv's mother
Éva Kerekes	...	Ágnes Noszfer
Réka Kiss	...	Girl on bicycle
Judit Lax	...	Nurse
Helga Mandel	...	Notary
Júlia Nagy	...	Evike's mother
Ferenc Pusztai	...	József Szemben
Pálma Pusztai	...	Evike
Judit Rezes	...	Edit
Lilla Sárosdi	...	Cashier
Sebastian Selymes	...	Svedish professor
Kornél Simon	...	Cleric
Andrea Spolarics	...	Ildikó, inspector
Zoltán Tamási	...	Monori
Réka Tenki	...	Blonde woman
Sándor Terhes	...	Ferenc Szirmai
Ildikó Tóth	...	Mrs. Szirmai
József Tóth	...	Dr. Zoltán Kutya
Katalin Várnagy	...	Mrs. Gábor
András Vinnai	...	Cashier
Zsolt Zágoni	...	Küklopsz

Also Known As:

The Investigator (International: English title)

Runtime:

Czech Republic:107 min (Karlovy Vary Film Festival)

Country:

Hungary | Sweden | Ireland

Language:

Hungarian | English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Anagram Produktion

A well-done European art movie.

Gigor Attila's first movie is a well-done European art movie.

Let me first explain what I mean by using the term "European art movie": these are (mostly, though not exclusively) European movies that differ significantly from Hollywood movies in style (slow-paced story, less action, more atmosphere, more realistic characters, more emphasis in social or individual problems, a bit more experimenting e.g. with the photography, with the story, etc.). However, although the stylistic differences might give you the illusion of real value, these movies are basically as empty as their Hollywood counterparts: no message, no catharsis. Just pure entertainment, albeit for a different audience: instead of teenagers drinking coke in McDonalds looking for action and special visual effects, it is more for university students drinking green tea in a tea-house, looking for the aforementioned stylistic elements.

So, this is the field where this movie tries to make an impression. And it succeeds, mostly. There is an excellent start and some interesting characters (a lonely, shy and quite weird anatomist and his wannabe girlfriend). There is a relatively good story with some unexpected twists (experienced viewer may guess them, though). And finally, there is the obligatory "artistic" element, this time taken from Woody Allen (at least I saw similar ideas in his movies): in some points the movie gets surreal by showing the main character's thoughts and dreams: these are probably the best parts of the film. Of course this is not a perfect movie, there are a few inconsistencies in the script, but in summary it is an enjoyable piece. That is, if you like the genre.