At 29 years old, Áron is undergoing something like a midlife crisis combined with a coming-of-age story – freshly dumped by his girlfriend, endlessly pressured by his parents, and unable (and unwilling) to get a job, he embarks on a life-defining journey of discovery taking him from the nightclubs of his native Budapest to the sunny beaches of Portugal, overthinking everything along the way.
This is the basic plot of For Some Inexplicable Reason – the first feature-length film by burgeoning Hungarian writer-director Gábor Reisz – but the real storyline is driven by the whirlwind pace of modern life in Budapest. With playful affection and unbound imagination, the movie captures vivid scenes of unique experiences all across the Magyar metropolis that are familiar to locals and visitors alike, from partying at Fogasház to wandering aimlessly at the Sziget Festival.
Whimsically following Áron through encounters with sardonic friends, reluctant attempts to become employed, a self-sabotaged one-night stand, and many other moody adventures, the film charmingly moves audiences with equal parts drama and comedy – and during a recent pre-premiere series of screenings, the viewing venue itself was movingly charming as well.
A microbus was transformed into a bijou six-seat cinema on wheels, welcoming many appreciative groups with a red carpet, velvet ropes, and theatrical curtains inside. During the past few weeks, this mobile movie house delivered laughs and tender feelings during several literal roadshow presentations of For Some Inexplicable Reason, including one at Klauzál Square for some lucky winners of a We Love Budapest contest.
Beginning today, For Some Inexplicable Reason is showing regularly at cinemas across Budapest, and it is screened with English subtitles at Pest’s Cirko-Gejzír art house; log onto www.cirkofilm.hu for show times.
