“He asked me what I feel now, having returned home and seen the city, from which I had to leave?” “Hatred...” I replied. The drama on the theme of the Holocaust “Without fate” received many awards and nominations of the most prestigious film forums in the world. In addition, the film was based on a semi-biographical book by Imre Kertes, a Hungarian Jew who fell into the most terrible concentration camps of the German Nazis, where he miraculously stayed. For his work, Imre Kertes was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His book “Unfortunate” was first published in 1975, but it came to us much later – only in the middle of zero, but has already managed to find its reader. The film was directed by Lajos Koltai, better known for his camera work, where he was almost a regular member of the team of the world-famous Hungarian director Istvan Szabo, including the production of the drama Taste of Sunshine (1999), which also had a connection with World War II. In addition, Coltai twice shot a film for Giuseppe Tornatore: in 1998, “The Legend of the Pianist” and in 2000, “Malena”.
In the center of the plot is the story of several years spent behind barbed wire among the Germans and their minions, among dogs and directed weapons, among the dirt, hunger, evil and hatred of Kovesh, who fell into the clutches of animals in human form at the age of fourteen. In order not to be sent to certain death, Kovesh added a couple of years and was left alive, although it is difficult to call life: he became more and more immersed in pain that literally oozed from everywhere, before his eyes people died of hunger and beatings, many went to cells, from where no one else returned. For a piece of stale and wormy bread, people, more like shadows, fought, gnawed, strangled each other. It is impossible to look calmly at what Kovesh had to endure, inside as if something is turning over, and a lump comes to your throat and you cannot understand whether you are now sick of feeling sorrow and suffering, of feeling righteous anger, or now tears are splashing from your eyes for those innocently murdered by those whom some are now trying to whitewash on the pages of history and with the support of some governments walk with their slogans and paraphernalia, proud of this.
This film, by the way, could not come out – in one far from beautiful moment the film crew was left with almost no funding, but the blessing was found that patron who understood what a movie should come out on screens. I don’t know how much or what material has already been filmed by that time, but what you’re seeing in the assembled form changes you. Of course, that Lajos Coltai deserves the highest ratings and the most flattering praise, but so far, in addition to “Unfortunate”, he shot only one picture – in 2007, the drama “Evening” with a stunning cast was released, but critics and audiences for the most part were dissatisfied with what they saw. And yet No Destiny stubbornly insists that Koltai is capable of much, is able to continue to benefit Hungarian and European cinema in general. I would like to note the excellent, if not outstanding work of the operator Gyula Padosh (deserved to be at least in the nomination for the Golden Frog, where awards are given to the best operators). As always, the music from Ennio Morricone, with whom Coltai was familiar from joint films with director Giuseppe Tornatore, is majestic and excellent.
The main role in “Without fate” was played by Marcell Nagy (other versions of spelling his name Marcel or Marcel). At the time of filming, he was just fourteen years old, so that by age category he fully corresponded to his screen character. But what is interesting is that while the film had a forced simple Nagy stretched out and lost weight, which only gave realism to his character. Probably someone from above wanted so and made the film “Without fate” was generally flawless. It is very difficult to follow the life of the hero Nadia in concentration camps and even without much effort of the young actor it would be possible to get a bottomless range of emotions, but Nagy really grew into his image and showed him as if he himself was in dungeons, as if he himself was starving, as if he himself was losing a human face. A few other characters are also certainly worthy of attention, but it is better to see once than to hear a thousand times (in this case read), so it is better to take up and turn on the drama “Without fate” and you will then realize that there is a great Hungarian cinema and for what cinema Hungarians should be proud. By the way, here in a small role of the American liberator will appear Daniel Craig, the future James Bond.
In general, a very heavy and tragic movie, which causes the most vivid emotions and leaves a lasting impression. In this drama on the theme of the Holocaust has everything: skillful production, wonderful camera work and atmospheric music, coupled with impeccable acting and scenes that remain in memory for a long time, if not forever. It is necessary to watch everyone, especially those who decided that the Nazi slogans are about him, we should give a sip for a few days of that life, or rather the torment experienced by the main character, who in turn had a real prototype - Nobel Prize winner in literature Imre Kertes. And if you are delighted with “Schindler’s List”, then be sure to watch “Without fate”!
10 out of 10