The Romanian Cinematheque features Peter Strickland's impressive debut 'Katalin Varga', a gritty tale of violence and revenge. Made over a long period of time and financed entirely by independent sources, the film went on to win the Silver Bear in Berlin and The European Film Academy's Discovery of the Year award in 2009.
Banished by her husband and her village, Katalin Varga is left with no other choice than to set out on a quest to find the real father of her son, Orbán. Taking Orbán with her under pretence, Katalin travels through the Carpathians where she decides to reopen a sinister chapter from her past and take revenge. The hunt leads her to a place she swore she would never set foot in again.
Prior to this, Reading-born writer/director Strickland made a number of short films including 'Bubblegum' and 'A Metaphysical Education'. He also founded the musique-culinary group, The Sonic Catering Band in 1996, releasing several records and performing live throughout Europe. The band also released field recordings, sound poetry and modern classical in very limited vinyl editions.
"Katalin Varga is a brilliantly atmospheric Hungarian-British-Romanian production" "The mother, played with electrifying presence by Hilda Péter" - Nick James, THE OBSERVER "Haunting, eerily beautiful" - THE GUARDIAN "Quite remarkable" - David Parkinson, EMPIRE "The atmosphere and execution is nothing short of remarkable" "From the very first frame, Katalin Varga commands your absolute attention" - LITTLE WHITE LIES
KATALIN VARGA
Romania/ UK / Hungary 2009 | 82 min Cast: Hilda Peter, Tibor Palffy, Norbert Tanko, Melinda Kantor, Sebastian Marina, Roberto Giacomello, Laszlo Matray Languages: Romanian & Hungarian with English subtitles
When: 22 May, 7pm Where: RCI London, 1 Belgrave Square, SW1X 8PH
Free entry.
