Jupiter's Moon (2017)

Aryan is a Syrian refugee trying to make his way into Hungary from Serbia, along with his father and many other wretched souls. They are all caught, and find themselves in a web of cynicism and corruption.

Director:

Kornél Mundruczó

Writers:

Kornél Mundruczó (screenplay), Kata Wéber (screenplay)

Stars:

Merab Ninidze, Zsombor Jéger, György Cserhalmi

8 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Merab Ninidze	...	Gabor Stern
Zsombor Jéger	...	Aryan Dashni
György Cserhalmi	...	László
Mónika Balsai	...	Vera
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Majd Asmi	...	Refugee
Zsombor Barna	...	Couple at Party
Szabolcs Bede Fazekas	...	Policeman
Ákos Birkás	...	György
Mátyás Bodor	...	Kid in the hospital
Soma Boronkay	...	György's servant
András Bálint	...	Voice of Gabor Stern (voice)
Bálint Bán	...	Special Force 2
Brigitta Egyed	...	Edit
István Fillár	...	Guard
András Gombai-Nagy	...	Railway man

Storyline

A young immigrant is shot down while illegally crossing the border. Terrified and in shock, wounded Aryan can now mysteriously levitate at will. Thrown into a refugee camp, he is smuggled out by Dr Stern, intent on exploiting his extraordinary secret. Pursued by enraged camp director Laszlo, the fugitives remain on the move in search of safety and money. Inspired by Aryan's amazing powers, Stern takes a leap of faith in a world where miracles are trafficked for small change.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | rear nudity | female full frontal nudity | cigarette smoking | planet in title | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Official site [Taiwan]

Country:

Hungary Germany France

Language:

Hungarian

Release Date:

8 June 2017 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Felesleges ember

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

KNM, Match Factory Productions, Proton Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Gabor Stern: Jupiter has at least 67 known moons The largest four are called Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These four moons are called the Galilean satellites because they were first seen in 1610 by the astronomer Galileo Galilei. One moon is presumed to have a saltwater ocean under its icy surface. This could be a cradle of new life forms.

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Connections

Referenced in Amanda (2018)

User Reviews

Impressions on the general mood in Hungary

Who would have thought that the first Hungarian superhero would be a refugee? Jupiter's Moon (Jupiter holdja) is not just another movie about men flying around in capes, but about a Syrian boy with mysterious supernatural abilities. The director, Kornél Mundruczó, is famous for his social awareness and his films frequently show the struggle of underdogs. The director decided to focus on the subject of immigration after the chaotic scenes at Budapest's main railway station Keleti pályaudvar in 2015. Mundruczó portrayal does not judge the particular situation and avoids the direct political resonances, but instead he shares his impressions on the general mood in Hungary.

Half fantasy, half drama, Jupiter's Moon is a unique blend of breath-taking action scenes and dark satire questioning the nature of fate and beliefs. The title refers to Jupiter's moon called Europa, reflecting on the current questions our continent needs to face. The story starts at the southern border of Hungary, where the Syrian boy, Aryan, is shot by the border patrol and suddenly starts to float through the air. The refugee camp's Hungarian doctor discovers the strange event and tries to help the boy. The doctor however has ulterior motives and hope to make money from the miracle. The two travel to the capital and meet with very different people who are seeking some kind of salvation.

Set somewhere in the near future, the neon-glowing Budapest is different from what we know today. There is a heavy police presence, disturbing noise and blinking lights everywhere. The audience can feel the paranoia in the air coming across the screen.

The movie is clever enough not to explain the extraordinary and shows us a sharp tableau of an odd journey. The unexpected friendship holds the story together, but every scene and character reflect on the general fear of the unknown. Jupiter's Moon is gritty, heavy and unsettling, but also thought-provoking and rare. Mundruczó successfully captures the turbulent times we are living in.