DIRECTOR: Laszlo Nemes
STARRING: Bojtorjan Barabas, Andrea Waskovics, Grégory Gadebois
RUNNING TIME: 2 hrs 12 minutes
LANGUAGE: Hungarian
PLOT: In Budapest in 1957, a year after the crushed Hungarian Revolution, a young Jewish boy clings to the belief, nurtured by his mother, that his father will one day return from the camps. But that fragile hope collapses when a rough, unfamiliar man appears at their doorstep to reclaim the family as his own.
GENRE: Drama
FILMING LOCATION: Budapest, Hungary
To check out all previous submissions for Hungary, click HERE.
STARRING: Bojtorjan Barabas, Andrea Waskovics, Grégory Gadebois
RUNNING TIME: 2 hrs 12 minutes
LANGUAGE: Hungarian
PLOT: In Budapest in 1957, a year after the crushed Hungarian Revolution, a young Jewish boy clings to the belief, nurtured by his mother, that his father will one day return from the camps. But that fragile hope collapses when a rough, unfamiliar man appears at their doorstep to reclaim the family as his own.
GENRE: Drama
FILMING LOCATION: Budapest, Hungary
To check out all previous submissions for Hungary, click HERE.
FILM REVIEW:
(This review contains spoilers.)
“The more you hate him, the more you're like him."
Set in Budapest in 1957, László Nemes’ Orphan is a tense and haunting examination of childhood vulnerability and the lingering shadows of history. The film follows Andor, a young boy whose life has already been marked by loss and uncertainty, raised by his mother in the fragile hope that his absent father might one day return. That hope is violently disrupted by the arrival of Berend, a menacing stranger who claims to be Andor’s father. From this moment, the film immerses the audience in a world of psychological tension, where fear, control, and manipulation fracture the boundaries of family and home. Nemes transforms a domestic setting into a crucible of unease, highlighting how power and intimidation can corrupt even the most intimate bonds.
Nemes crafts an atmosphere of unrelenting tension, where every corner, corridor, and shadow feels alive with threat. The city itself mirrors the precariousness of Andor’s life, its postwar streets and apartments echoing with both emptiness and latent danger. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing moments of quiet dread to accumulate into a constant sense of anticipation. Silence and stillness are as meaningful as action: a lingering gaze, a closed door, or a sudden sound can carry more menace than any overt confrontation. In this way, Nemes makes the audience feel the constant vulnerability of Andor, who must navigate a world where trust is perilous and safety is fleeting.
The story’s structure amplifies this unease, unfolding almost like a psychological labyrinth. Andor’s attempts to understand Berend, uncover his motives, and protect his mother drive the narrative, creating suspense that is both intimate and intense. Each interaction with the intruder escalates the tension, revealing Berend’s cruel dominance and Andor’s growing realization that his life will never return to its previous stability. The film does not offer relief or redemption; rather, it immerses the audience fully in the oppressive, relentless dynamics of power and fear within the household.
Orphan is a meditation on the fragility of safety and the traumatic intrusion of malevolent forces into a child’s life. Andor’s father never returns, and the illusion of protection is shattered by Berend’s violence, emphasizing the permanence of loss and the impossibility of simple recovery. Nemes’ film is unflinching in its depiction of fear, control, and the psychological weight of domination, leaving the viewer to confront the stark reality that innocence can be so easily imperilled. In its relentless intensity, Orphan stands as a chilling exploration of vulnerability, power, and the devastating consequences of abuse.
(This review contains spoilers.)
“The more you hate him, the more you're like him."
Set in Budapest in 1957, László Nemes’ Orphan is a tense and haunting examination of childhood vulnerability and the lingering shadows of history. The film follows Andor, a young boy whose life has already been marked by loss and uncertainty, raised by his mother in the fragile hope that his absent father might one day return. That hope is violently disrupted by the arrival of Berend, a menacing stranger who claims to be Andor’s father. From this moment, the film immerses the audience in a world of psychological tension, where fear, control, and manipulation fracture the boundaries of family and home. Nemes transforms a domestic setting into a crucible of unease, highlighting how power and intimidation can corrupt even the most intimate bonds.
Nemes crafts an atmosphere of unrelenting tension, where every corner, corridor, and shadow feels alive with threat. The city itself mirrors the precariousness of Andor’s life, its postwar streets and apartments echoing with both emptiness and latent danger. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing moments of quiet dread to accumulate into a constant sense of anticipation. Silence and stillness are as meaningful as action: a lingering gaze, a closed door, or a sudden sound can carry more menace than any overt confrontation. In this way, Nemes makes the audience feel the constant vulnerability of Andor, who must navigate a world where trust is perilous and safety is fleeting.
The story’s structure amplifies this unease, unfolding almost like a psychological labyrinth. Andor’s attempts to understand Berend, uncover his motives, and protect his mother drive the narrative, creating suspense that is both intimate and intense. Each interaction with the intruder escalates the tension, revealing Berend’s cruel dominance and Andor’s growing realization that his life will never return to its previous stability. The film does not offer relief or redemption; rather, it immerses the audience fully in the oppressive, relentless dynamics of power and fear within the household.
Orphan is a meditation on the fragility of safety and the traumatic intrusion of malevolent forces into a child’s life. Andor’s father never returns, and the illusion of protection is shattered by Berend’s violence, emphasizing the permanence of loss and the impossibility of simple recovery. Nemes’ film is unflinching in its depiction of fear, control, and the psychological weight of domination, leaving the viewer to confront the stark reality that innocence can be so easily imperilled. In its relentless intensity, Orphan stands as a chilling exploration of vulnerability, power, and the devastating consequences of abuse.
