From Thursday 14 December, the Hungarian film success ‘On Body and Soul’ (Testről és lélekről) by director Ildikó Enyedi will be shown in over 20 cinemas throughout the Netherlands.
The film won several awards. It was awarded with the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and on 9 December, Alexandra Borbély won the award for Best European Actress at the European Film Awards. ‘On Body and Soul’ was also announced as the Hungarian entry for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film 2018.
Dutch reviews are raving. Dutch newspaper NRC described the film as “On Body and Soul is such a unique film which gives you the feeling that everything is right, and that everything strengthens each other: scenario, cinematography, music, but above all the acting” and gave the film 5 stars. The Dutch VPRO Gids gave the “enchanting love story” 4 stars.
Synopsis
A slaughterhouse in Budapest is the setting of a strangely beautiful love story. No sooner does Mária start work as the new quality controller than the whispers begin. At lunch the young woman always chooses a table on her own in the sterile canteen where she sits in silence. She takes her job seriously and adheres strictly to the rules, deducting penalty points for every excessive ounce of fat. Hers is a world that consists of figures and data that have imprinted themselves on her memory since early childhood. Her slightly older boss, Endre is also the quiet type. Tentatively, they begin to get to know each other. Recognizing their spiritual kinship, they are amazed to discover that they even have the same dreams at night. Carefully, they attempt to make them come true. This story of two people discovering the realm of emotions and physical desire, at first individually and then together, is tenderly told by director Ildikó Enyedi, but in a way that also exudes subtle humour. A film about the fears and inhibitions associated with opening up to others, and about how exhilarating it can be when you finally do.
Cinemas
The film is distributed in the Netherlands by September Film Distribution and is currently shown in the following cities and cinemas: Filmhuis Alkmaar, Filmtheater De Lieve Vrouw (Alkmaar), Cinecenter, EYE, Filmtheater Rialto, Het Ketelhuis (Amsterdam), Focus Filmtheater Arnhem, Chasse Breda, Filmhuis Den Haag, Filmhuis De Keizer (Deventer), The Movies (Dordrecht), Natlab (Eindhoven), Concordia Film (Eschede), Groningen Forum, Filmschuur (Haarlem), Filmtheater Hilversum, Cinema Oostereiland (Hoorn), Lumière (Maastricht), Lux (Nijmegen), LantarenVenster (Rotterdam), Louis Hartlooper Complex (Utrecht), Filmteather Fraterhuis (Zwolle).
Netflix
The film has also been acquired by Netflix, where it will be released on 21 February 2018.
