Hukkle (2002), written and directed by György Pálfi, fits into no
genre. It's a Hungarian film, with almost no dialogue, and it's truly
unique.
The work "hukkle" is an attempt to imitate the sound of a hiccup.
Throughout a movie--set in a rural Hungarian village--an old man
sits by the side of a road and hiccups. Meanwhile, life in and
around the village goes on as people eat, work, and play.
Despite the idyllic nature of the landscape, something bad is
happening in the village. A police officer is investigating a crime,
and the director appears to be providing clues for us about what's
happening and why.
I never solved the mystery. The film curator at the George
Eastman House in Rochester--where the film was screened-- told us he
had seen the movie five or six times, and would explain the
mystery to us after we'd watched the film. When he gave us his
explanation, many members of the audience disagreed with him.
Maybe you have to see the movie five times to get it, or maybe after five
viewings you lose it.
According to the curator, this film is due out on DVD, and it's worth
finding and watching. Hukkle is strange, and somewhat
disturbing, but it's not boring.
genre. It's a Hungarian film, with almost no dialogue, and it's truly
unique.
The work "hukkle" is an attempt to imitate the sound of a hiccup.
Throughout a movie--set in a rural Hungarian village--an old man
sits by the side of a road and hiccups. Meanwhile, life in and
around the village goes on as people eat, work, and play.
Despite the idyllic nature of the landscape, something bad is
happening in the village. A police officer is investigating a crime,
and the director appears to be providing clues for us about what's
happening and why.
I never solved the mystery. The film curator at the George
Eastman House in Rochester--where the film was screened-- told us he
had seen the movie five or six times, and would explain the
mystery to us after we'd watched the film. When he gave us his
explanation, many members of the audience disagreed with him.
Maybe you have to see the movie five times to get it, or maybe after five
viewings you lose it.
According to the curator, this film is due out on DVD, and it's worth
finding and watching. Hukkle is strange, and somewhat
disturbing, but it's not boring.