MovieChat Forums > Fehér isten (2014) Discussion > Not too impressed with this...

Not too impressed with this...

posted 10 years ago by makloda11
28 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this yesterday in Budapest with English subtitles. I went in with high expectations considering this is a highly anticipated film but left the theater with a notion of being let down a bit. The weird dialogues don't help either. The character of the protagonist's father in particular seems to be horribly scripted. At times you're left wondering what the producers are trying to tell you.

Is this a tale of/against animal cruelty? Or is the the whole thing a metaphor of discrimination, uprising, violence and peace? Or is it trying to be both?

I think the producers tried to be a little bit of everything (teenager love story, teenage daughter vs. father, animal rights, metaphorical story of riots and uprising of the discriminated). It's a little bit of everything but just scores B- in every discipline. I think the movie could have been so much more if it focused on 2 subthemes and went into depth, rather than trying to be everything to everyone.

This gets a solid 5/10 from me. Unfortunately not more. Compare this to the excellent Hungarian "Kontroll" by Nimrod Antal and you'll realize this is an effort that's just average.

[–] craigsailor 10 years ago

If your whole problem is with the dialog, I suspect this is a translation problem since you said that you saw it with subtitles. I assume that means you don't understand Hungarian.

[–] fierypoeticgirl 9 years ago

The dialogue, even translated accurately, was VERY odd.

"Self-reflection is the hardest thing for SOME people to do!" 

[–] Szabu 10 years ago

I am Hungarian and saw it with the same English subtitles. The translation was pretty accurate and overall good. I agree with some of your points, I was especially disappointed by the main girl character. She wasn't written and acted very likable, which is a problem in a movie like this. However, the scenes with the dogs were fantastic.

Overall, a 6/10 for me, but there are much better Hungarian movies even recently, like "Isteni Muszak", "A Nyomozo" and "Kameleon".

[–] Cineman17 9 years ago

hi I am American and I have a serious question to ask you about this movie.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Szabu 9 years ago

I don't know if it's a troll post or what, but there's always been some good ones.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Szabu 9 years ago

You'll likely say some elitist BS as "Lol these suck", but here's a few good ones:

- A Tanú (1969)
- A Pál Utcai Fiúk (1969)
- Ludas Matyi (1977)
- Macskafogó (1988)
- Valami Amerika 1-2 (2002/8)
- Kontroll (2004)
- Nomen Est Omen (2004)
- Nyócker (2005)
- Szabadság, Szerelem (2006)
- Kaméleon (2008)
- A Nyomozó (2008)
- Isteni Müszak (2013)
- Liza, a Rókatündér (2015)

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] martyncymro 9 years ago

Fantard's problem might well be that the film doesn't have an English dialogue. Of all the film's she's rated, only 1 wasn't in English and that was a martial arts TV series from Japan. She needs to realise there's a whole world out there where hundreds are languages are spoken.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

The film didn't quite work for me but I think that's because Lili's story felt inauthentic, not helped by the poor characterisations, e.g. the father's attitude at the beginning.

Is this a tale of/against animal cruelty? Or is the the whole thing a metaphor of discrimination, uprising, violence and peace? Or is it trying to be both?

I think it's both but about cruelty more broadly than just that inflicted upon animals. The idea of humans as cruel beasts was there from the outset with the abattoir scene.

I give my respect to those who have earned it; to everyone else, I'm civil.

[–] Dimi1822 9 years ago

I agree with you. I saw this at Cannes last year based on the hyped, hated it. It's so subpar on every level, and it's way too long, convoluted. The violence is insane, it's just despicable and hard to watch at times.

I'm actually shocked there is so much positive buzz around it. The publicity team is doing a great job spinning this one, because it's really really not that good and yet everyone seems to think that it's amazing.

I give them points for the concept - for telling a story about dogs, and their revenge, and using so many real dogs. But that's all the praise this film deserves.

[–] Andres_Barrientos 9 years ago

I so wholeheartedly agree with you! So weird that it is getting so much good buzz. Well, yes and no, I went to see it two days ago and saw more than a handful of people walking out. I almost did many times myself.. stayed because of the "good buzz", so kudos to the advertising people, doing a great job so far.

The acting, hmm.. The girl I thought was really good, and there's a lot of good moments for most of the main cast, but I did see a loooot of awful acting moments: I never specially believed her dad being so mean with the dog at the beginning.

[–] emvan 9 years ago

I never specially believed her dad being so mean with the dog at the beginning.

I thought it was completely clear that his attitude towards Hagen was entirely about his ex-wife, whom he apparently has a lot of dislike for. He even calls it "my ex-wife's dog" to the tax collector. It's compounded hugely by the fact that the ex should have registered the dog and paid the tax, and he's absolutely unwilling to pay it in her stead.

All of that made it entirely credible.

Prepare your minds for a new scale of physical, scientific values, gentlemen.

[–] daxisunder 9 years ago

It's not a story about dogs or their revenge.Ever heard a word like "metaphore"?

[–] tkip19 9 years ago

Saw this today with some friends, including a Hungarian man and we hated this film. Him too. We all agreed the premise was too silly to be taken seriously and that everyone in the movie seemed miserable and unlikeable.

[–] LoupGarouTFTs 9 years ago

I admit I haven't seen the film yet and probably won't because of the description. It seems like animal rights propaganda to me, which would fit in with all of the people in it being miserable and unlikeable.

[–] minumero 9 years ago

If you want it to be about animal rights propaganda than that's all you might see. I didn't think it had anything to do with animal rights.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ajaferreira 9 years ago

I love animals and I do enjoy a good Indie movie, but this is just a *beep* movie. Lot's of problems related with the story itself and it get's even nonsense in 3 different moments.
It starts a bit boring, but you can get along and the evolution of the story does make sense. After Max ran away from the fight, everything's just wrong and lacks the intensity it deserves. At the end, you feel like you've just wasted around 2 hours of your lifetime.

[–] knifemagnet 9 years ago

'It's a little bit of everything but just scores B- in every discipline'

Yet you give it 5/10. Maybe it's just me, but your math looks awfully funny.