On Body and Soul (2017) User Reviews

A Masterpiece - every detail present for a reason

[simonkuttner · 9/10 · 30 December 2017]

This film is a masterpiece, if only for the fact that every single detail is there for a reason. Nothing is left to chance (based on a few other reviews for this film, this fact seems not be clear to all reviewers - e.g., one reviewer asks why did the film have to take place in slaughterhouse?).

The title says it all, Body and Soul. Endre is the Soul - throughout the film we are witness to his sensitive nature / soul toward others. Right at the beginning he says that possibly Maria is shy, he does not go downstairs to the slaughterhouse (to protect himself? only when Maria arrives does he start going down - to this cold clinical place without soul), he tells a new employee that if he cannot feel for the animals, he will go crazy, the attempts not to hurt others (apologizes profusely after looking at breasts of psychologist, and many other examples). Maria is cold, without sensitivity, and thus she can work downstairs in the slaughterhouse. To work in the slaughterhouse, you need to cut off your sensitivities / emotions, otherwise you will not cope (thus the genius of the setting). Maria has an ability to understand people from physical features, reading faces, and in the scene with the cleaner, it is emphasized what a beautiful body she has. However, her damaged soul prevents her from touch with others. She seeks this soul warmth (e.g., allowing the sun to touch her skin).

Endre is physically handicapped, Maria is "soul" handicapped (there are so many examples of this in film). Toward the end we see and hear the ultimate polarity of the two characters, when both are close to death, Maria physically experiencing it and Endre experiencing it on a soul level. The beauty is that this polarity can become united.

An unusual love story with soul

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 3 November 2017]

As somebody who is disabled and has Aspergers myself, 'On Body and Soul' did resonate a lot with me and really did feel a big emotional connection with it.

'On Body and Soul' is not a perfect film, with the unflinching savage elements (even in the unusual slaughter house setting) not really gelling with the rest of the film and feeling almost gratuitous in the shock value. Having said that, it is also a really beautiful film that was made with a lot of good intentions and heart. Really respected that it handled Aspergers and disability with sensitivity and tact, doing it in a way that makes one genuinely connect with the characters even more so than we do already. It's not overdone and it's not trivialised either.

Unusual a love story that in 'On Body and Soul' is, but it is also one with soul and a lot of pathos. The excellent performances from the two leads Geza Morcsanyi and particularly Alexandra Borbely help bring a genuine poignancy to the story and their chemistry is heartfelt in its realism. Nothing is rushed or far-fetched, it progresses at a realistic rate and it really does look like they are in love. The rest of the cast are also strong but it's all about the two leads.

Visually, 'On Body and Soul' is very well made. It is beautifully filmed and a lot of the imagery is splendidly unsettling. The music is hauntingly beautiful and Ildiko Enyedi's direction is controlled and intelligent, excelling in the connection between human and animal behaviour and the depiction of the alienation of modern urbane living.

The script is nuanced, poignant and thought-provoking, with some pertinent points made about the subjects it explores. Pacing is deliberate but never dull.

Summing up, a very good and often very moving film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Unusual love story in unusual setting, very well portraying two main protagonists, both not socially streetwise. Golden Bear winner at Berlinale 2017

[JvH48 · 8/10 · 22 February 2017]

Saw this at the Berlinale film festival 2017, where it was part of the official Competition. Possibly a spoiler but no secret anymore: It won the Golden Bear for best film. Unusual love story in an even more unusual setting, namely a slaughterhouse. The two main protagonists, the financial director and a newly appointed quality controller, are both not socially streetwise. Their personalities with their deviancies are very well portrayed, letting them stand out from cardboard characters that appear in some (other) love stories.

The movie opens in a forest where we see one male and one female deer, watching each other from a distance. At later moments, we see variations of the same scene. But before we think this is some form of running gag, we get the reason why it is important and why it is repeated with small variations. It comes to light as a side effect of a psychological screening of all personnel working in the slaughterhouse, that the two main protagonists have identical dreams at night with said two deer in a forest. Initially, they both consider it unbelievable. And the resident psychologist even assumes that she is the victim of a practical joke, and does not believe it either. Their disbelief ends when they compare notes, and observe the similarities as well as the progress in the dreams, in hindsight easy to be derived from our knowledge what to look for as the couple grows closer together in cautious steps.

All in all, the screenplay demonstrates very well how the two main protagonists get attracted to each other, and how the rest of the slaughterhouse staff behaves around them. They are not exactly outcasts but not an integral part of the social structure either, so gossip and unfriendly comments are to be expected. The slow progress in their courtship is juxtaposed with the two deer in their respective dreams who come closer together in tiny steps. It is all very unusual, but one never gets the feeling that it is too far-fetched.

A beautiful introvert love story

[Jithindurden · 9/10 · 23 November 2017]

Enyedi has made a beautiful love story weaving a little bit of magical realism into it. This felt like an introvert's fantasy realized on the screen. There were so many moments that could have gone wrong if tweaked a little bit to either side but they felt perfect here. With beautiful cinematography and great performances, this is one of the best romances of the year.

I loved everything about this film

[rubenm · 8/10 · 5 January 2018]

Who would have thought that scenes of two deer, slowly moving through a snowy forest, could be so meaningful? Apart from being beautiful nature shots, there is a special meaning to them in this film, when it turns out that the two protagonists both dream of being a deer. That's the magic of cinema: to give images a deeper emotional meaning than they seem to have at first sight.

I loved everything about this film. The slightly bizarre story to begin with: two people discover that they're having the same dream every night. The way they discover this is priceless in itself. I also loved the two characters: both are slightly handicapped, one physically and the other one emotionally. Actress Alexandra Borbély is great, playing a girl with autistic spectrum disorder. And above all I loved the way the director takes her time to let the story develop: slowly but very deliberately, taking care of every small meaningful detail.

This is a very tender movie. The viewer can't help but sympathize with these two lonely people, both trying so hard to understand each other. It's making a great case for human dignity, mutual understanding and tolerance.

Pretty good film, even if it falls a bit apart towards the end

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 4 November 2017]

"Teströl és lélekröl" or "On Body and Soul" is a new Hungarian movie (2017) that runs for almost two hours and was written and directed by Ildikó Enyedi, one of the country's most known and successful (female) filmmakers who has been working in the industry since the late 1970s here. But now in her early 60s, this film has the potential to become her biggest success. It is Hungary's official Oscar submission and even if the one from the year before was not successful, Enyedi tries to step into big footsteps as "Son of Saul" won the Oscar very recently. But we talked about this one on another occasion already. Now it is time for this one here and I must say I liked it. It is especially, but not exclusively the two lead actors who make it work as they are both very good. But it also the side stories that add a lot here like the part about the theft that is a bit predictable, but not hurt by it. The film does not need antagonists or really bad guys to succeed. They may be womanizers or thieves, but that doesn't mean they are bad people and you should not jump to conclusions.

In the center of it all, however, is the soul mate plot. We have a man and a woman meeting in their dreams and for this really unrealistic premise Enyedi's effort is even more impressive because she made it all seem really realistic and it was easy to care for the characters and wonder what might happen to them next. Sadly, there is one exception sort of and this is the last half hour where the film hits its only low point as it sacrifices the so far quietly convincing approach for cheap thrills. First of all, it would make no sense that the male protagonist suddenly goes to bed with the other woman as he said he was finished with stuff like that. And the emotional turmoil is hardly explanation enough. Then the scene at the cafeteria where he acts as cold and distanced as it gets towards her, only to call her quickly afterward saying that he loves her so much. Of course that is the moment when she is about to commit suicide. And he basically saves her and she is pretty much perfectly fine despite all the blood she lost. I never understand the need for all this super intense drama at the end of films only to offer a quick feel-good solution. It really hurt the film here. If they take this path, then maybe her actually killing herself in an unhappy ending could have been the better choice. But at best, leave the suicide out entirely. Had the film ended with them finding each other sexually and emotionally when they tried to sleep in the very same room, this would have been an amazing film. No cheap thrills please. The very last shot with the deer gone as they were finally united in reality was beautiful and smart again. Overall, except the final weaknesses, this was a film with great attention to detail (for example the therapist who was the only one allowed to call her Marika and she really trusted him apparently as he was also her child therapist, so they know each other for so long already) and a truly convincing portrayal of autism by the stunning Borbély. But her male co-lead Morcsányi was just on par with his performance. Touching film and I'm curious if Hungary scores another Oscar nomination with it. The win is probably not an option this year, but it's fine. I give it a thumbs-up and suggest you check it out.

Art this is

[drz · 10/10 · 24 June 2018]

First things first: DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILERS they spoil the story.

And what a story it is! Slow, vulnerable, awkward, beautiful, painful. You can smell the sweat and blood and life.

The movie may be too intimate and fallible for some prople, though all those uneasy details add to the story and the feeling. It peaks in chatarsis multiple times during the movie, still the ending is a bit too obvious for my taste (especially when in contrasts to the previous 90 minutes as the movie cleverly and slowly evolved and expanded) Still this is a masterpiece: multilayered, well acted, well shot. Bruising yet uplifting. What more one may ask from a movie.

Update: initially I rated this 9/10 due to some nitpicking on technical issues like pacing at the end. After a week of haunting images, memories and feelings in its wake, I say this movie is the real deal: so here it is 10/10 (like M. Lazhar.)

Stunning film

[lilly-green · 20 January 2019]

A peaceful, gentle exploration on love. Metaphors of love are depicted through deers in a snowy woods. The film is sensual yet innocent, an intriguing story about two lovers.

Strange and Haunting

[derek-duerden · 7/10 · 25 January 2024]

Firstly, it must be said that if you are seriously disturbed by slaughterhouse scenes then this is not the film for you. This is the main setting, after all, and there are real documentary-style elements within.

However, once the main plot device of having the two major characters share a dream context (and many details) kicks in, then it develops into something rich and rewarding, although still with disturbing elements. There are also some well-handled subplots involving low-level corruption and devious behaviour. Both fundamentally lonely - for different reasons - they are gradually drawn into a shared fate and to a very human conclusion.

Very affecting.

Sensual and Delightful

[Blue-Grotto · 8/10 · 20 October 2017]

Snowfall in a forest of firs, gentle wind, the soothing sound of flowing water and two deer nuzzling in the mist. Endre and Maria are fastidious loners and mere acquaintances, yet they share this recurring dream. Though Maria has extreme difficulty with physical contact, she strives to overcome this limitation with her vivid imagination and immense desire. The mutual and expanding dreams tug at the pair, body and soul, but so do their fears, obsessions and predilections for solitude.

I loved the sensual nature of the film and the two main characters who delight in little things such as the warmth of sunlight and the brushing of hair with a hand. Close-up photography, of faces, reflections in the water and more, adds another layer of sensuality to the film. Both Endre and Maria work in a slaughterhouse and while the story does not dwell for too long in the raw bloodshed of this, it is enough to make you vow to become a vegetarian. I appreciate the film's slant on the subject, which Endre gives voice to in telling a candidate for a job at the slaughterhouse, "if you don't feel sorry for the cows, you can't work here." The character chemistry seems a little off, as Endre appears much older and uglier than Maria, but maybe it is just me. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Repellent scenes may throw you out of the film

[weanedon2001 · 6/10 · 30 July 2020]

The opening scenes showing the actual slaughter of a live cow made me want to turn this one off. I am not vegetarian, but I wonder why the director included these graphic details in what is ostensibly a quiet, soulful film. The two leads are very good, but I was wishing for some recognizably human traits from the female character; Too often a performance such as this (and we've seen spectrum disorders portrayed on film for decades) comes off as an actor's feat - not flowing out of the actor's experience, and as a result, not as compelling as intended. Still, there are some nice details in both performances, and they certainly carry this film, but I just couldn't totally commit to the artist's conception here.

An extremely shocking, and suspenseful, romantic climax!

[Hellmant · 9/10 · 9 February 2018]

'ON BODY AND SOUL': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A Hungarian drama which is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards. It tells the tale of two slaughterhouse workers that have been having the same dream every night, in which they meet as deer in the forest. The film was written and directed by Ildikó Enyedi, and it stars Geza Morcsanyi, Alexandra Borbely, Zoltan Schneider, Ervin Nagy and Itala Bekes. It's received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics, and it's won multiple other prestigious awards as well. Netflix is now distributing the movie, in the US, through it's streaming site. I found it to be well made and touching.

Endre (Morcsanyi) is the CFO at a slaughterhouse, which has just employed a young new quality manager named Mária (Borbely). Endre is attracted to Maria, and he tries to converse with her, but she has difficulties talking with people due to her extreme social issues (similar to autism). When there's a minor theft at work, all of the employees are interviewed by a psychologist, as part of the investigation. While they're interviewed, Endre and Mária realize they've been having the same dream every night, in which they're both deer. This creates a very odd relationship between the two.

The movie is really well acted, and the characters seem very believable and real. The slaughterhouse scenes are also really realistic, and extremely disturbing (especially for a vegan like me). The romance of the film is beautiful, and oddly touching too (so are the dream sequences). I especially like that the main female character has such extreme social issues, and a freakishly good memory (these are both things that I can really relate to). There's also an extremely shocking, and suspenseful, romantic climax. It's also oddly touching and weirdly beautiful though. Overall I thought it was a really well made and effective film.

moderate and cozy hue

[lizaiesec · 7/10 · 19 August 2017]

On Body and Soul (Testről és lélekről), I can hardly watch the bloody scene as actress cuts her wrist, but the song playing as background music is very charming but painfully I have no idea what its name is. Actress might be supposed as autistic but I find she is quite lovely as deer. The whole hue in film is bright, moderate and cozy, Hungarian sounds especially enchanting there. Among representing conflicts in characteristics of actors respectively, deep-thinking reflects quite well as Hungarian's typical feature (well, I'd not stereotype, lol) Good movie and proud of Hungarian movie industry!

If this is considered romantic, we're better off without romance

[lil-girl-1 · 2/10 · 4 February 2018]

SPOILER: I consider this film one of the most overrated films recently.

There is an autistic woman. And a man with a crippled arm. When their quasi-romance begins, the man makes no effort at all to try to understand how the woman communicates, how she is different. She almost commits suicide because of the man's unwillingness to even try. And right after her suicide attempt, he sexually penetrates the woman, who was having difficulties even touching. Is this romantic? I find it abhorrent and disgusting. And of course, the woman is partially cured of the autism after the man has had sex with her. Wow, of course, she only needed to be f*d after a suicide attempt to be made more 'normal'. What a great take on autism!

Really, if this film is romantic, I don't want to have anything to do with romance. But to be honest, I think the problem is not with romance, but how this film portrays it.

This is a below-average film that became overrated because it deals with the topic of autism (in a very unintelligent way in my opinion) and because its beautiful imagery and slow pace. This is not enough for a good film though. Don't fall for the hype, this is a bad film.

Where art and craft meet

[bnsw19 · 8/10 · 3 December 2017]

Beautiful. Moving. Funny. Touching. Magical. Shocking. Wonderful. A film for grown-ups with hearts and minds. The direction - the shots, the camera-work, the framing - are a pleasure: one admires parts of the film as one does a painting. The acting is so natural as to forget one is not watching a real life scene. The script is elegant and sparse - there is so much left unsaid; it's the space between the words that count. The all encompassing vision makes one proud to be a human being.

This is what cinema was invented for

[engalexegy · 9/10 · 7 May 2018]

I always think A good movie is one that can touch your heart and move your feelings ,The good story does not necessarily make a good film , this is Unusual romance from Unusual Director Ildikó Enyedi ,It won the Golden Bear for best film but also deserve an Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film . the magical realism Presented in this film tell us that Love Is beautiful dream & Life deserves to live To experience love . I think movies like On "Body and Soul" Explain The big difference between European cinema and Hollywood , in Europe Cinema is an art of soul and heart & that is what cinema was invented for thanks Mária and Endre ,Alexandra Borbély&Géza Morcsányi for For the beauty that you have done thanks Máté Herbai for great Cinematography thanks Adam Balazs for the beautfuil music thanks for all cast &crew

Oscar Foreign Language Picture nomination well worth watching

[harry_tk_yung · 11 August 2018]

This Hungarian nominee for Oscar best foreign language film is quite a gem. The story starts in a rather gruesome workplace, a slaughter house for beef. The establishing scenes include scenes not intended to be sensational but nevertheless bloody, depicting the slaughter house's normal daily work routines. If this was, instead, an accountant's office, it will undoubtedly put you to sleep. But, this being a slaughter house....

In absolute contrast, there is great, serene beauty of a small lake in the middle of a snow-covered forest, with a deer or two (or doe, a deer, a female deer) trotting about leisurely, staying absolutely still at times, and occasionally taking a drink of water. About one third into the move, you find out what this is all about.

Art-house style slow-paced and at times a tad surreal, this movie has a very clear, down-to-earth central theme - how two total strangers click, and connect. For example, in "The bridges of Madison County", it is an inconsequential phone call which she takes from the wall-mounted phone behind him, her hand coming down to rest on his shoulder nonchalantly, and his hand coming up to touch hers. In "On body and soul", the connection is simple: dreams.

He is the finance head of the company. She is a new quality control inspector. Other than being slightly handicapped, with an immobile left arm, he is quite normal, with a reserved but not particularly taciturn persona. She, however, has some kind of autistic problem although it is not definitively stated in the movie. Right from the beginning, he shows an interest in her but his mild attempts are met with rigid responses.

The main body of the movie (and its soul, as well) is depicts, wonderfully detailed, the interaction between them. It soon becomes apparent that she has an interest in him as well but is completely at a loss as to how to express it. The turning point comes from a minor crime committed in the organization which becomes instrumental to bringing in a criminology psychologist. Everybody is considered a suspect and questioned. Separately, our protagonist each recounts an identical dream, the idyllic snow scene we see earlier, with only one difference - he is the deer and she the doe. Naturally the psychologist treats this as a practical joke and confronts them together. This is how they discover this inexplicable phenomenon and start comparing notes, literally, of their dreams. It will be a failure of a film if things go smoothly from here on. At the end of a somewhat rocky trajectory, the climax is what one critically brilliantly describe as going "from tragic to farcical in a few seconds". There is a happy ending (apologies for the spoiler), and excellent closure (about the dreams).

The support cast, very watchable, includes among other:

• The aforementioned criminology psychologist, voluptuous and desirable - at the first shot, before even showing her face, the camera shows a close up of her well-shaped bosom (decently clothed) from our male protagonist's POV
• Our female protagonist's childhood psychiatrist that she still retains, despite his polite reminder that his specialty is psychology of children, not grown women
• An elderly women genitor who volunteers to be her image consultant for attracting men
• A newly hired worker, sort of a lady's man
• The non-nonsense detective

The two leads, Geza Morcsanyi and Alexandra Borbely, did well in projecting the characters they portray. Borbely, if you are a fan of "Downton Abbey", has an uncanny resemblance of Joanna Froggatt (Anna Bates in the series).

Generally art-house melancholic in tone, this movie does not lack in provoking moments of chuckle and smile not unlike those from sit-coms.

Different

[billcr12 · 7/10 · 21 February 2018]

A couple working at a slaughterhouse have the same dream every night involving a pair of deer. The man has a paralyzed arm and the woman is emotionally stunted. The origins of her personality are never explained. Over time, the two slowly share their dreams and attempt to have some sort of normal interaction. At its' core, it is a simple story of loneliness and of two lost souls looking for human connection. The actors are good, but I would have preferred more of a back history of the characters. Why did they become the way they were? The woman is especially strange. I was not thrilled with the ending, but overall, it is worth watching. A warning to animal lovers out there. The early scenes of animal slaughter are real and fairly gruesome. This will cause some meat eaters to turn vegetarian.

What is the nature of human connections?

[ara_tenar · 10/10 · 20 February 2018]

Can anyone truly feel what you feel (no matter if you are autistic or not)? The lengths we go to in hope of finding that special connection with someone who 'gets us'... The film makes such a connection a mystical act, inexplicable by rational thinking: the dreams, the "I feel like I'm going to die" phone call just at the right time... And it feels right... And then the song comes... This film twists your soul and makes you rethink the nature of human connections. A masterpiece.

Beautiful work of art, boring movie

[clairelu60 · 6/10 · 25 July 2020]

This feels like a work of art, so many shots are unique and convey tonal changes. There are slaughterings of animals and the fact that the characters dream of being deer definitely has some significant metaphors. But as a movie, it's quite boring. To show the beauty and every moment wonderfully, the plot develops extremely slowly. Notice most of the positive reviews titles include the word film, and rarely movie. This may just be a linguistic difference but it sums up reactions well: if you view this as a film, something of an artwork that is an experience in itself, then you very well may enjoy this. If you are looking for a movie, in a more general sense, not necessarily a film but something entertaining, you may find this boring. I'll admit it wasn't putting me to sleep but it would have if I wasn't invested in the actors. The acting is quite good, characters are well developed, plot is interesting. Maybe this is my opinion as someone watching this movie a few years after it's come out, or not being European myself there are cultural differences in films, but I feel it was a decently enjoyable movie that just had events occurring extremely slowly.

an invigorating comeback of Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi

[lasttimeisaw · 8/10 · 20 November 2017]

ON BODY AND SOUL is an invigorating comeback of Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi, her first feature film in 18 years which stimulatingly dances away with the Golden Bear in Berlin.

The plot can be basically boiled down as follows: when a lonely man meets a lonely woman, how the pair fumbles to build an authentic connection without forfeiting their individuality, because both are crippled in very different terms, for a middle-aged Endre (Morcsányi), it is his corporal handicap, a liability which might explain why he is a singleton, but for the young Maria (Borbély), her condition is far more unusual and intriguing, she seems to be stuck in a limbo of emotionally arrested development, equipped with no social skills, and eschews human contact of any sort, but in accordance with the less unconventional "idiot savant" trope, she is also endowed with a preternatural power of memory, which might fairly explain her credentials as a quality inspector, newly appointed to work in Endre's abattoir, where he assumes the job as the chief financial officer.

Despite of its well-trodden narrative arc, ON BODY AND SOUL refreshingly channels a mystical dream-reality correlation between the two protagonists, embodied in their shared dreamscape as a stag and a doe and through a subplot of psychological assessment, its earth-shattering revelation is comically underlined by Klára (a voluptuous Réka Tenki and an uncanny Jennifer Lawrence doppelgänger), the psychiatrist who is in a snit of believing that she has been taken for a ride (indeed, comical elements are friskily deployed throughout). It is this paranormal tie-in propels their bonding in motion, which reverberates as a sobering call, how could these two isolated souls even start a tentative gesture if there were no such beggar belief fabrication to break the humongous glacier between them, one must venerate Enyedi for her keen insight of the intrinsic difficulty apropos of human interactions, and her diligent craftsmanship of balancing the dream- reality dyad with an intimate but non-judgmental outlook amid the film's gorgeous imagery.

It is still a bumpy road ahead after that, not least for the tabula-rosa Maria, who really steps out of her comfort zone and out on a limb to prepare herself for the ineluctable carnal ritual, but at the same time, her gawkiness sends many a wrong signal to an increasingly frustrated Endre, who is self-aware of their gaping age difference and dubious of his own potency. When the crunch comes Enyedi doesn't flinch from radically bringing a splurge of red into play, even if it offends the squeamish, which is not dissimilar with the slaughterhouse mise-en-scène, viewers are impelled to stare at pain and gore vis-à-vis, because cruelty is the staple among human beings, whether we (sometimes even obliviously) cast it on our own kind or lesser beings.

The two leading performances are of high caliber, dramaturgist Géza Morcsányi is well at ease with Endre's resigned, contemplative demeanor tinged with a smidgen of sophistication, whereas a doe-eyed (no puns intended!) Alexandra Borbély is simply mesmerizing to hold our attention from stem to stern, often appears like an ethereal creature with her impassive lineaments, and registers her unaffected agenda at the same time in pinpoint economy.

Mournfully honed in Laura Marling's WHAT HE WROTE, the thematic dirge bewitches Maria and audience alike, ON BODY AND SOUL reaches its crescendo with a hard-earned happy ending, when magic dissipates, a new lease on life is inaugurated, which could be also read as a herald of Enyedi's own future, career-wise. In fact, she is a few years younger than Géza Morcsányi in real life, so guaranteed by this fascinating love story, her next offering looks pretty buoyant, with only one proviso, the waiting time must be significantly pared down, an 18-year hiatus is an egregious waste of her talent.

Not for vegetarians

[alansabljakovic-39044 · 6/10 · 19 January 2020]

Interesting premise but it didn't really captivate me. I mean Lynch and Bergman did it better but this is still a solid film with great performances. The bath tub scene was a little too much for me but the ending was really great.

A Beautiful Love Story

[mary-16778 · 9/10 · 21 February 2018]

This is a beautiful love story about two shy, socially awkward people who meet while working in a beef slaughterhouse. They find out that each night they have the exact same dream about two deers finding each other in the woods.

I have a different take on the meaning of the title than other reviewers. I don't think one was the "body" and one was the "soul". I think it has to do with them finding their soul mates. They are the bodies who find each other. The deer represent their souls as in soul mates. That is why after an especially touching and moving scene where they consummate their love, their dreams of the deer end. Because they finally found their "sole mates".

I wish it were a silent film...

[FilmsFillMyHoles · 6/10 · 23 February 2018]

Visually On Body and Soul is gorgeous (both in its aesthetics and storytelling), it's concept is a truly unique take on romance. The problem is with the subpar delivery and the clunky writing.

The acting ranges from decent to great, at least visual performance vise (loved the close up shots of the actors' excellent mimicry). Alexandra Borbély and Géza Morcsányi gave fantastic visual performances, you can understand everything you need to know about their characters, what they're thinking at the moment etc. by their subtle expressions, but as soon as they opened their mouths it took me out of the film. The line delivery and oral performances feel ingenuine and unconvincing (except for Tamás Jordán and Zoltán Schneider who were great all around). I understand that it's purposefully and fittingly restrained and withdrawn, but it goes so far in that spectrum that it makes every conversation between the main characters a chore to get through (for the audience). The writing doesn't help it either. As a Hungarian, Ildikó Enyedi's writing (especially the dialouges) felt really unnatural and old-fashioned for me, like a book from another century (something from Dezsö Kosztolányi - a great Hungarian writer from the early 20th century). So I'd say you'll probably enjoy this film more if you're not familiar with the Hungarian language. Lastly I'm not sure what was I supposed to take away from the film. It seemed like other than a beautiful portrayal of a spiritual connection b/w two people - Body and Soul, which is praiseworthy enough, there's not much else under the surface. I didn't feel like I really gained anything from watching this film. Which is my personal issue, but I wanted to adress it anyway.

On Body and Soul is a tough watch. It's overlong and kind of empty in a way, with bad line delivery. Still I would recommend seeking it out, because it's a highly unique experience with a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, fantastic cinematography and some commendable (mostly visual) performances.

A great idea but a lost opportunity

[kungeo-46654 · 3/10 · 4 February 2018]

On Body and Soul Review by George Kun The sheer beauty of the forest winter landscape with a couple of majestic deer, roaming freely and playfully in a pre-mating exploratory game is stunning. It would fit well into a National Geographic production. But that's not what the movie is all about. The curious and hopeful audience is already primed by the high profile of this award winning production and expects nothing less than what an Eastern European movie should deliver in exchange for a very low budget production: an original idea, a strong and clever plot, very talented actors, superior acting, witty dialogues, and a good fit of the characters into the story line. Well, well , a very tall order, indeed. Unfortunately it was grossly under delivered, because of the major flows that are both unexplainable and unforgivable. Maria , who is hosting parts of the body and soul, had a long journey from spending some virtual time with Sigmund Freud, crawling awkwardly between the pages of Stefan Zweig's writings and then spending some time with Paolo Coelho, landing shortly in the Psychiatric Sanatorium in Ljubljana and getting to know Veronica, who wanted to die. Sometime later, she parachuted herself into a Hungarian slaughter house, right into a very demanding and potentially stressful position of "Quality Control Manager". Anyone who has the faintest knowledge about an industrial environment, the demands of such a job, the strong communications and people's skill required to get and stay in such a job, would realize quickly that in real life, Maria would never be hired in that position. For anyone, expecting a surprise change, adaption, or some turn of the plot that would add credibility to the movie...well, it just did not happen. Maria starts her career and continues to be antisocial and self defeating. She likes to sit alone in the cafeteria, and promptly get-up and leave if anyone would approach her or try to talk to her. When Geza, the Financial Manager come to her table she quickly broke her code of silence or cold passive aggressive monosyllabic style of communications, by rudely offending Geza with a reference to his crippled arm. Totally unprovoked. Geza, a fairly complex character with his own problems, did not leave the table; instead took-up the challenge to get to know and explore this strange, untamed woman. Through a strange set of circumstances, both Maria and Geza find out that they have identical dreams, that they share. This is where the deer come into the picture, because that was what the two people are consistently dreaming about. A new hope raises for the puzzled spectator, that maybe the two humans will follow into the steps of the dear, and some true friendship, maybe love will ensue. Based on this only bond, while Maria is still morbidly shy, antisocial, deeply ignorant and inexperienced in the nature of human relations and without any progression in their intimacy, she somehow initiates the premature idea of sleeping together, so that they can share in the morning their dreams. They starting doing that, in a highly uncomfortable and pitiful arrangement. She was sleeping in her bed and Geza on the floor, like a kid in a "slumber party". It is not clear why Geza, a man at least 30 years older than Maria and with a messed-up but experienced sexual life agreed to this strange arrangement. For sure some curiosity and expectation of something special. Nothing special happened and not even something ordinary , so Geza got tired of this experiment and called it quits. Maria took it very personally, to her "heart and soul", went home, broke the balcony window, took a sharp shard of glass and went to lie into the water filling bath tub. She then cut her veins on both forearms. Then the phone rang, it was Geza. He wanted to see her. After lots of bleeding, Maria miraculously bandaged her arm (only the left one is seen in the movie, the right one was left out or it miraculously healed itself). She took a break from suicide, went to Geza who made very impassionate love to her, careful not to touch her bandaged arm. The rest is left to the imagination of the viewer, if they cared to imagine anything. In summary: 1. A great, original and very promising idea, completely lost its impact because the way the movie was made. 2. The pace of the movie is excruciatingly slow, and there is little in the substance or plot development to justify the two hours lengths. 3. Maria is a very average looking woman and does not exhibit any particular intellectual or personality attributes to make -up for it. Well, she has good memory, to be fair. Her attempted suicide appears hard to comprehend and it's almost gratuitous. No drama build-up at all in that non-existing relationship. 4. Geza is a much older man, more fit for a counsellor or father figure, but none of that is in demand, either. 5. If Maria was a lonely poetess or artist of some kind, preferably in the last century, the movie would have worked much better. "Quality Control Manager" in a modern contemporary slaughterhouse? Let's get serious. Really poor casting. 6. I would be very interested to hear the comments from the people who awarded the big prize at the Berlin Film Festival.

Final Score: Deer in the winter forest: 1 Rest of the movie: 0