FEKETE PONT

Lesson Learned
Bálint Szimler
H, 2024, col., 119’
Hungarian o.v.
Italian premiere

A realistic portrayal of the Hungarian educational system, which is questioned through the eyes of a teacher, Juci, and a new student, Palkó, both modern anti- heroes of a school which becomes a metaphor for a whole country. The film premiered at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival, in the ‘Cineasti del presente’ section, winning the Pardo for Best Performance (Anna Mészöly) and a Special Mention.

Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Bálint Szimler Fotografia / Photography: Marcell Rév Montaggio / Editing: Zsófia Ördög Musica / Music: Dorka Lajhó, Péter Sabák Suono / Sound: Viktor Lente Scenografia / Set Designer: Imola Láng Costumi / Costume Designer: Marcsi Glaser Interpreti / Cast: Paul Mátis, Anna Mészöly, Ákos ‘Dadan’ Kovács, Inez Mátis, Gábor Ferenczi Produzione / Produced by: Boddah, CineSuper Coproduzione / Co-produced by: Proton Cinema, Good Kids, KMH Film, FocusFox, Pioneer Pictures Distribuzione internazionale / World Sales: Lights On

Young teacher Juci attempts to challenge the outdated methods in her school, while new student Palkó, recently relocated from abroad, struggles to adapt to the demanding educational system. Their personal stories offer insight into an oppressive system, reflecting the broader Hungarian society. The film premiered at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival, in the “Cineasti del presente” section, winning the Pardo for Best Performance (to Anna Mészöly) and a Special Mention.

“Today, Hungary’s educational system is in crisis: a shortage of teachers and new laws silencing them have an impact on what we learn in school as children. This inspired me to explore self-censorship in Lesson Learned.” (B. Szimler)

Bálint Szimler
Born in Hungary in 1987, film director and writer Bálint Szimler spent his childhood in New York. He studied under Ildikó Enyedi at the SZFE (University of Theatre and Film Arts) in Budapest. His short film Here I Am (2010) was screened in Cannes’ Cinéfondation and nominated for Best Short Film at the European Film Awards. Lesson Learned is his feature fiction debut.

2007 8 cm / sf 2008 Egymás mellett cm / sf 2010 Itt vagyok (Here I Am) cm / sf 2013 Felelés cm / sf episodio di / episode of Budapest for Me diretto con / directed with Dániel Bálint, László Csuja, Áron Ferenczik, Erika Kapronczai, György Mór Kárpáti, András Pires Muhi, Attila Pluhár, Gábor Reisz, Péter Szeiler 2015 Balaton Method doc. 2024 Fekete pont (Lesson Learned); Premi / Awards: Locarno FF “Cineasti del presente” – Pardo per la Migliore interpretazione femminile a Anna Mészöly, Menzione speciale / Pardo for Best Performance to Anna Mészöly, Special Mention

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