directed by Péter Bergendy, spy drama, 89 min, eng subtitles
written by Norbert Köbli
with János Kulka, Zsolt Nagy, Gabriella Hámori, Péter Scherer
The 1956 Revolution has fallen. Terror reigns. Appointed by the Soviets, the new Prime Minister - a very paranoid János Kádár - orders that each and every National Defense officer's loyalty should be tested by new and rigorous directives. Everyone is watching everyone else, counterspies are watching themselves and spies are watching ordinary people, watching their every word behind their backs. Young agent Jung, posing as a private teacher, undergoes a test of loyalty administered by his superior and friend Markó. The routine surveillance takes a wild turn when Markó uncovers disturbing secrets in Jung's life. Secrets that could easily destroy the careers of both men...
A thoughtful spy game with an emphasis on secret police methods without, of course, overlooking the intimate dimension that cannot be separated from even the most abstruse totalitarian practices. Colleagues and friends stand against one another, and one of these two relationships will have to give way. Which will it be? And why can't things be like they were before?