Orphan

Budapest, 1957. In the aftermath of the crushed Hungarian revolution, 12-year-old Andor lives with his stoic mother Klára among the ruins of the city. She works in a small shop whose boss is a fanatical communist, so she has to watch her words carefully. Andor has been waiting almost his entire life for his father Hirsch, who has been missing since Tweede Wereldoorlog. He idealizes his missing father as a war hero and perfect dad. His life is completely turned upside down by the arrival of Berend, a rough man from the countryside, who is linked to Klára's mysterious past during Tweede Wereldoorlog, and claims to be Andor's father. Commentary Oscarwinnaar László Nemes ( Son of Saul , Sunset ) is back with a raw coming-of-age film set amidst the turmoil of the twentieth century in the heart of Europe. The war may be over, but the shadow of the past still marks life, even for a boy born during the last bombings. This cinematic gem, beautifully filmed on 35mm, is partly based on the youth of Nemes's father. Where his previous films resolutely chose a very closed perspective, there is now more openness, with more room for the world and contact between people. A gripping and poignant story about identity and how war and violence continue to affect generations.