Hungarian Film 'Orphan' Explores Post-War Trauma and Family Secrets

The Hungarian film 'Orphan,' directed by László Nemes, has arrived in Israeli cinemas a year after its premiere at the Haifa Film Festival. This is Nemes's third film, following his Oscar-winning debut 'Son of Saul' and his fourth film, 'Sunset.' 'Orphan,' which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is based on the story of Nemes's father, the son of a Holocaust survivor mother and an unknown father.

The film depicts a post-war coming-of-age story focusing on the experience of orphanhood and survival. It follows Andor Hirsch, who grew up in an orphanage until his mother, a Holocaust survivor, collected him. Set in 1957, a year after the Hungarian Uprising, the 12-year-old Andor continues to await his father's return, living under the shadow of his mother's heroic tales and experiencing pervasive antisemitism.

Andor's life is further complicated by the arrival of a new, imposing figure: a butcher by profession, whose relationship with Andor's mother is gradually revealed. Andor struggles to accept this man, especially as a potential father figure, and decides to uncover his true identity. Simultaneously, Andor and his friend find a hidden pistol, hinting at further plot developments.

Nemes employs a consistent point-of-view technique, similar to 'Son of Saul,' using 35mm film and a narrow academic aspect ratio to immerse the viewer in Andor's perspective. The film connects the public sphere of political unrest and antisemitic persecution with the disruption of domestic security, particularly as a new male figure enters the family unit.

'Orphan' examines the need to adapt to a changed power structure and suppressed rebellion, with the titular 'orphan' representing not just the young protagonist but an entire world adjusting to a new order. The film's ending offers a cyclical image suggesting ongoing historical movement. While not deemed a major or particularly important film, its compelling scenes and the complex portrayal of the butcher by Grégory Gadebois make it an engaging work, despite its limitations.