Blockade – Hungary’s nominee for the 95th Academy Awards

“Blockade will represent Hungary at the 95th Academy Awards in the ‘International Feature Film’ category”, according to a press release from the National Film Institute of Hungary.

The board deciding on the official Hungarian Oscar nomination selected “Blockade” from 18 films. The seven-member jury includes the National Film Institute‘s Film Jury — Tibor Fonyódi, Csaba Káel and Ákos Pesti —, as well as Csaba Bereczki NFI International Director, Péter Bergendy film director, András Kálmán distribution specialist and Emil Novák cinematographer.

The film tells the story of “how a society begins to learn that democracy is not only about freedom but also about duties and responsibilities”, said director Ádám Tősér.

The story revolves around the 1990 taxi blockade of Budapest and follows Prime Minister József Antall as he faces the most difficult test of his life barely six months after his inauguration. Disillusioned with democracy, taxi drivers protest against the drastic increase in gas prices and blockade the city, eventually followed by the whole country. The opposition is on their side, calling for a revolution. Antall, the former revolutionary of 1956, suddenly finds himself on the other side of the barricade — left alone, freshly after surgery, in a ward.

Besides the four days of the event itself, “Blockade” gives a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes struggles, the political deals and the private life of a prime minister fighting for democracy while dealing with the crisis. The film also features the recently deceased Mikhail Gorbachev and Helmut Kohl, among the key politicians of the era.

“Blockade” is directed by Ádám Tősér and written by Norbert Köbli, starring Zoltán Seress and Attila Vidnyánszky Jr. It will be released in Hungarian cinemas on October 20, 2022 by InterCom.

Cover Source: Köbli Norbert, Facebook