As others have commented this is a directorial debut and for that alone it deserves high marks. The director shot the film over a 17-day period, which fits with the spare and lean story of a young woman (Katalin Varga) who takes a journey that we learn, as we travel with her, is one of revenge.
I thought the story line was very good because it allowed lots of moments that were eerie and verging on horrific as Katalin's memories of her rape surface. For example as she looks into the forest where her son is running, the forest becomes a dark place in which evils hide. The sound and music used in the film are evocative and a big contributor to the atmosphere of prevalent menace.
What was most satisfying was the way in which Katalin's revenge plan unravels as her experiences give way to lots of different feelings particularly around her son, who is travelling with her and is the result of the rape. The conversation that Katalin has with Antal, her attacker and her son's father, felt so real filled as it was with brittle feelings of disappointment. This film manages to cleverly underline that what we think and imagine we might do and what we are capable of enacting are two different things. Especially as the monster rapist in Katalin's mind and memories is found to be an ordinary man who is kind and hospitable to strangers in need.
There is a surprise ending where the theme of revenge is played out unexpectedly and before that an unforeseen tragedy that visits Antal. Both of which feed the religious theme that is also present throughout; particularly around evil and mercy.
The director's next project is a horror that I look forward to for his use of horror elements in Katalin Varga work well with other elements such as folk telling and a thriller about revenge.
I thought the story line was very good because it allowed lots of moments that were eerie and verging on horrific as Katalin's memories of her rape surface. For example as she looks into the forest where her son is running, the forest becomes a dark place in which evils hide. The sound and music used in the film are evocative and a big contributor to the atmosphere of prevalent menace.
What was most satisfying was the way in which Katalin's revenge plan unravels as her experiences give way to lots of different feelings particularly around her son, who is travelling with her and is the result of the rape. The conversation that Katalin has with Antal, her attacker and her son's father, felt so real filled as it was with brittle feelings of disappointment. This film manages to cleverly underline that what we think and imagine we might do and what we are capable of enacting are two different things. Especially as the monster rapist in Katalin's mind and memories is found to be an ordinary man who is kind and hospitable to strangers in need.
There is a surprise ending where the theme of revenge is played out unexpectedly and before that an unforeseen tragedy that visits Antal. Both of which feed the religious theme that is also present throughout; particularly around evil and mercy.
The director's next project is a horror that I look forward to for his use of horror elements in Katalin Varga work well with other elements such as folk telling and a thriller about revenge.