The bipolar nature of Hungarys politics and the countrys education system are the targets of Gbor Reiszs Explanation for Everything, which world premieres in theVenice Film Festivals Horizons strand.
The film is Reiszs third feature after the acclaimed Some Inexplicable Reason (2014) and Bad Poems (2018). Set in summer in Budapest, Explanation for Everything follows high school student Abel, who is struggling to focus on his final exams while coming to the realization that he is hopelessly in love with his best friend Janka. The studious Janka has her own unrequited love with married history teacher Jakab who had a previous confrontation with Abels conservative father. The tensions of a polarized society come unexpectedly to the surface when Abels history graduation exam turns into a national scandal.
Hungary has been ruled by a right-wing government since 2010. I never wanted to make a political movie just tell a story that that in every level, there are political topics, because what I felt was that the in last few years you could not talk about anything in Hungary that is not connected to politics, Reisz told Variety. Every question is are you right or left? And for example, about me, I dont know which side Im on. I know Im not a right-wing person, but Im not a left-wing person [either], I can find a lot of positive stuff in every side. And so it wasnt a decision, the main thing was to talk about these kinds of people.
The filmmaker also takes exception to some of the practices in the educational system. I have a lot of problem with the education system, Reisz said. I think the graduation exam in Hungary its absurd. In a day you have to know everything about history, everything about literature. Its not correct. Im not sure its really equal.
Reisz has a clear message that he wants to convey via the film. The message is to start to communicate. In Hungary this is the worst part a few years ago, we started to learn to not communicate between the two sides and if you dont communicate, you dont want to understand the people from the other side. And its terrible. We start to behave like robots, Reisz said.
Films Boutique is handling sales on the film and has already sold to I Wonder Pictures for Italy and Filmtett for Romania.