This is Ferenc Török's second major film; Moszkva Tér, a Hungarian cult classic, was the first. Török is a very wry filmmaker. I watched the deleted scenes section of the DVD -- it comes with commentary, a feature I have never seen for deleted scenes before. In this section, he talks about how he took out all the "Hungarian road film" aspects, all the romantic scenes, all the buddies-clowning-around improv his actors added. He wanted this to be a dark film, and he has succeeded, but it is also, as he intended, a film about heroes, about the ordinary guy as a hero in a hierarchical world. As such, it is an excellent portrayal of modern-day Hungary, and many other places as well. This is also a very beautiful film -- the photography is stunning. The plot is minimal, so don't look for much action. But there is lots of fine acting, and some outstanding studies of characters alienated from the modern world.
