Made in Hungaria

Colour, 35 mm
Hungary, 2009, 109 min
IP – International premiere
Section: Variety Critics’ Choice

Synopsis

After a prolonged stay in the U.S., a Brylcreemed Hungarian teenybopper teaches his Communist-era peers about rock ‘n’ roll in this fluffy but swinging musical romance, based on a stage show that was in turn inspired by the early days of Magyar rocker Miklos Fenyo. The crowd-pleasing film was a hit in its native Hungary and delivers a high feel-good quotient, from the first musical number, in which 18-year-old Miki (Tamas Szabo Kimmel) shows off his Jerry Lee Lewis-inspired piano and singing skills after bumping into his childhood friends in a park, to the rivalry that brews between Miki and the gang leader who took his place. "I just want to make music and fall in love,” Miki proclaims — a modest enough goal, though Kimmel’s peppy performance and humorous, nostalgic references to the film’s picture-perfect ’60s setting make for an enjoyable ride.