Sunset, director László Nemes Jeles’s second feature film, was awarded the prize of the international federation of film critics (FIPRESCI) at the 75th Venice film festival today. Sunset was the first Hungarian film in 24 years invited to the prestigious festival, the Hungarian Film Fund said.

The film made with an international cast of professional and amateur actors tells the story of a young Hungarian girl (played by the talented shooting star, Juli Jakab) who investigates the fate of her family and the Budapest family shop circa 1913. Irisz Leiter, 20, arrives in the Hungarian capital after spending her younger years in an orphanage. Hoping to work as a milliner in the legendary hat store which belonged to her late parents, she is first driven away by Oszkar, the new owner. When a man abruptly comes to her looking for “Kalman Leiter”, she is suddenly confronted with her past. As she searches for answers about her family and stumbles upon dark secrets, she is drawn into the turmoil of a civilisation on the eve of its downfall.

Nemes Jeles has worked with much of the crew from Son of Saul, for which he had won the Oscar prize in 2016, the statement said.

The Hungarian Film Fund supported production with a 1.59 billion forint (EUR 4.8m) grant. Even before its world premiere, distributors from nearly 70 countries (!) bought the film, the statement said.

Sunset will be premiered in Hungarian cinemas on Sept. 27.

Photo: Press