Csaba Pindroch Movies

As a sequel to the popular 2002 Hungarian-language outing A Kind of America, this comedic saga emerged six years after its predecessor and continues the droll adventures of three brothers - Ákos (Gyözö Szabó), András (Ferenc Hujber) and Tamás (Csaba Pindroch). In the previous installment, the men set about raising $220,000 to enable commercial director Tamás to hire hotshot American producer Alex Brubeck (Tibor Szervet); the twist emerged when Alex made off with the money. In this outing, the men head off to Manhattan with Akos's girlfriend in tow, and attempt to track down the shady and shifty Alex. In the process, they become embroiled in a theatrical venture with strong ties to a mob boss. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

A virtuous man discovers just how deep corruption can run, and how easy one can succumb to it, in this satiric comedy-drama from Hungarian filmmaker Istvan Szabo. When a scandal brings down the attorney general of a small but prosperous community near Budapest, Istvan Kopjass (Sandor Csanyi), a man with a clear record and impeccable ethics, is invited to take over the position. While his wife Lina (Ildiko Toth) is wary of the appointment and wants to avoid uprooting their children, Istvan is convinced he can make positive change and he accepts. However, only a few days after taking his new position, Istvan becomes aware of how challenging his job can be when the town's mayor (Oleg Tabakov) persuades him to abandon plans for a new tax schedule that would lower assessments for the poor. Istvan also discovers nearly everyone he meets claims to be some sort of distant relative, and as a consequence wants some sort of special consideration that he often finds difficult to refuse. Istvan's downfall begins when a less than honest banker (Karoly Eperjes) arranges for him to get a special deal on a large house in exchange for some favors, and things get much worse when the banker's attractive wife (Erika Marozsan) uses her charms to lure Istvan into some serious white collar crime. Rokonok (aka Relatives) was adapted from the novel of the same name by Zsigmond Moricz. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

For his feature debut, L.A.-born Hungary resident Nimród Antal made Kontroll, a farcical look at the Budapest subway system, about the crazy ticket agents who earn their living there and the hostile citizens they deal with on a daily basis. At the center of it all is Bulcsú (Sándor Csányi), a quiet fellow who leads his ragtag crew that includes the Professor (Zoltán Mucsi), the nagging, burned-out elder of the group; Muki (Csaba Pindroch), the goofy narcoleptic; the disheveled Lecsó (Sándor Badár); and the naïvely gung-ho new guy, Tibi (Zsolt Nagy). Bulcsú and his guys can't compete with the likes of Gonzó's (Balázs Mihályfi) top-notch crew, who gets all the perks and the best assignments. They're more concerned with just getting through each day in one piece, and it isn't always easy. In addition to the annoyed riders who bicker over having to show their tickets and passes, there's Bootsie (Bence Mátyássy), an energetic young man who plays pranks on the agents and runs very fast, and Sofie (Eszter Balla), the odd young woman who shows up on the train in a bear costume everyday and never pays her fare. Worst of all, there's a dark and mysterious figure who's been pushing unsuspecting riders in front of oncoming trains with predictably grisly results. His superiors begin to suspect Bulcsú when they realize he's been living in the system, spending his nights sleeping on the platforms, and never venturing above ground. Kontroll won Le Prix de la Jeunesse at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. It was also selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art for inclusion in the 2005 edition of New Directors/New Films. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Directed by Bence Miklauzic, Ebrenjarok ("Streetwalkers") follows the intertwining lives of three people who are all at a personal crossroads of some sort. Sandor (Gyorgy Gazso) is a middle-aged office worker who has decided to start a new life after being fired from his job. Headed for the Adriatic coast, Sandor has barely left his backyard when he's stopped by a couple of bored police officers who unjustly book him for drunk driving. At the same time, cigarette marketer Anna (Eszter Marko) is trying to earn cash by selling samples in all of the local pubs. It's at one of these pubs where she meets Sandor (Gazso), and runs into her brother, who wants her to return to their country town. Rounding out the characters is Bandi (Peter Laszlo), a factory worker who has recently incurred a severe electric shock while on the job. The injury seems to have changed his personality, and the once mild-mannered man not only begins to quarrel with his family and friends, but passionately crusades against his old company. Eventually, Sandor, Anna, and Bandi wind up in the same jail cell. Together, they share their experiences and manage to retain their innocence despite the cynicism of city life. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi