Movie spotlight
Time Stands Still
A Budapest high school in the beginning of the 1960s. Dini suffers the torments of adolescence. His father had to leave Hungary after the uprise in 1956, and since then Dini's mother has had to take care of her two sons on her own. A friend of Dini’s father, Bodor, is released from prison and moves in with them. Dini and his brother are far from happy about this intrusion on their family life.
Insights
Plot Summary
In a Hungarian orphanage in the early 1980s, a group of children, led by the resourceful Misi, attempt to escape their mundane and often harsh reality through elaborate games and fantasies. Their elaborate schemes, however, begin to blur the lines between their imagined worlds and the real one, leading to unexpected consequences.
Critical Reception
Time Stands Still is a critically acclaimed film, noted for its unique blend of childlike wonder and poignant social commentary. It received widespread praise for its direction, performances, and its sensitive portrayal of childhood within institutional settings. The film is considered a significant work of Hungarian cinema.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its atmospheric direction and evocative portrayal of childhood.
Applauded for its nuanced performances, particularly from its young cast.
Noted for its thoughtful exploration of escapism and institutional life.
Google audience: While specific Google user reviews are not readily available, the film's critical acclaim suggests a strong positive reception for its artistic merit and thematic depth.
Awards & Accolades
It won the Grand Prix at the 1984 World Film Festival in Montreal and received the European Film Award for Best Film in 1988.
Fun Fact
Director Péter Gothár drew inspiration from his own experiences and observations of children in Hungarian orphanages during the socialist era.
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