LIZA, A RÓKATÜNDÉR

A caustic yet entertaining retro-influenced satire that, though it borrows obvious inspiration from both Amélie and Grand Budapest Hotel, strikes the viewer first and foremost with its unique signature style.

Reticent nurse Liza has for years now been lovingly caring for the overbearing widow of the former Japanese ambassador to Budapest. In her spare time, all of which she spends in the widow's home, she reads Japanese books. Now and again the spirit of Tomy Tani, a Japanese pop-singer who met a tragic death, appears in her dreams, allowing Liza to blossom as she dances around the vast antiquated flat. On her thirtieth birthday she requests a day off, convinced by the prophecy that she will meet the man of her dreams in a local burger bar.

Things turn out differently however, with every man in her proximity suddenly ending up in mortal danger. As the mysterious fatalities amass Liza starts to believe that, true to Japanese mythology, she is a cursed fox fairy, with all those who desire her sentenced to death. Can she prove her innocence now that the police suspect her of being a murderer? And what about the awkward policeman Zoltan, who has obviously developed feelings for Lisa...

Director Károly Ujj Mészáros spent a total of more than eight years putting this, his feature film debut, into practice. The result, a visually-impressive, playful tragicomedy stands out with its original approach, dark humour and Japanese beat-music, not to mention the outstanding work of director of photography Péter Szatmári. In its native Hungary this dark fairytale proved a box-office hit, attracting a total of more than 100,000 viewers. JT