Budapest Noir (2017)

• Year: 2017
• Released: 02 Nov 2017
• Country: Hungary
• Adwords: 2 wins & 3 nominations
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5161018/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/budapest_noir
• Metacritics:
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: Hungarian, English
• MPA Rating: N/A
• Genre: Crime, Drama, History
• Runtime: 95 min
• Writer: Vilmos Kondor, András Szekér
• Director: Éva Gárdos
• Cast: Krisztián Kolovratnik, Réka Tenki, János Kulka
• Keywords: budapest, hungary, film noir, woman director,

	6.1/10
	60% – Critics
	60% – Audience

Budapest Noir Storyline

Set in the politically troubled autumn of 1936, this story follows Zsigmond Gordon, a world-weary reporter asking unwanted questions about the seemingly unimportant murder of a young prostitute found beaten to death and dumped in a courtyard. While supposedly covering the funeral of fascist-leaning, real-life Hungarian prime minister Gyula Gömbös, Gordon’s investigation leads him deep into the city’s dark underbelly – a shady world of pornographers, fixers, all-night “smokers”, boxing rings, seedy brothels, powerful crime syndicates and communist cells – all the way to the highest echelons of power, where one of Hungary’s most influential business figures plans to make a fortune through his political ties to Germany’s leadership – as long as he can somehow keep secret the fact that he is of Jewish heritage.

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Budapest Noir Movie Reviews

Convincing Noir Thriller

Budapest Noir: Budapest, October 1936, dark, smokey, misty, it certainly has the feel of Raymond Chandler Noir but a tad colder. The Hungarian Prime Minister Gombos has striven to align Hungary with Hitler’s Germany but now returns home in a coffin after dying in Munich. Anti-Semitism is on the rise and a Budapest City Square is named after Hitler. Gordon (Krisztián Kolovratnik) is a reporter on the crime beat rather than a PI but has many of the attributes of Philip marlowe.

A young woman (Franciska Törocsik) is found dead on a street in the red light district, she has no means of identification apart from a Jewish prayer book. Gordon briefly encountered this woman before and is unwilling to just pass the death off as “just” the murder of a prostitute as the police are keen to do. Joined by his former lover, photographer Krisztina (Reká Tenki) he pursues the case with the determination of a detective rather than just a journalist. Krisztina is all too aware of the rising political tension and Anti-Semitism having just returned from Berlin. As the investigation continues Gordon is warned off by the formerly honest police chief Gellert (Zsolt Anger), he is beaten up by thugs, pistol-whipped by a mobster and Krisztina suffers similar indignities, for this case is bringing them closer to the higher echelons of Hungarian political and business circles.. In a scene reminiscent of Casablanca, Gordon beats up fascists in a bar who object to a “Jewish” song, he is involved in a car chase pursued by communists, yes, this is no ordinary murder. But he goes where the evidence takes him.

The Budapest of 1936 is vividly recreated by director Eva Gardos along with cinematographer Elemer Ragalyi and set designer Pater Sparrow. Tight outdoor shots in present day Budapest avoid the necessity of CGI. Beautiful interiors have been crafted with an elite nightclub providing boxing matches between women over dinner and politicians playing cards upstairs, in a high class brothel women may be chosen from a pictorial menu. This contrasts with street corner card games and bare-knuckle boxing in the streets. Adapted from the eponymous novel by Vilmos Kondor, with the screenplay written by Andras Szeker. 8/10

Great atmosphere, not totally convincing.

1936 Budapest, with anti-Semitism on the rise. A woman is found dead on the streets in the district of whores. The body has no ID, only a Jewish prayer book, and appears to be dressed above the typical street whore. Intrigued, a newspaper crime reporter chases down leads by whatever means necessary, using contacts, thefts, and blackmail. He travels between high society and the rough streets, fighting off elements who want him to stop.

The “Noir” atmosphere is well rendered, and the portrait of a city with rising anti-Semitism seems realistic. The almost-final link seems to stretch believability (which is why I didn’t score it higher), though the journey itself is enjoyable. I saw this at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, and so was more sensitive to the Jewish background.

Very enjoyable modern Noir movie

This is a well-written, and well-acted movie that is beautifully shot. The plot, set in Budapest right before WWII, is an intriguing crime story that unfolds over the course of the movie and keeps you engaged. I loved seeing the re-enactment of Budapest in the 1930’s.