László Nemes‘ feature debut “Son of Saul” cemented a place in the pantheon of historical dramas about Nazi Germany. With claustrophobic, hand-held camerawork following closely a traumatized protagonist, Nemes crafted a harrowingly confrontational film, forcing viewers to be voyeurs to the atrocities of the Holocaust. The effect is immediate and undeniable; “Son of Saul” is remarkably immersive and almost too horrific to bear.
All that said, three new clips from Nemes’ latest film “Sunset” promise to build upon the filmmaker’s adeptness at helming intimately told stories set against a significant historical backdrop. “Sunset” follows Írisz Leiter (Juli Jakab), a young woman en route to Budapest to work at the famous hat store her late parents owned. A rejection from the new owner puts Írisz on a quest to uncover her past as pre-WWI Hungary braces for an incoming war. Here’s the official synopsis:
1913, Budapest, in the heart of Europe. The young Irisz Leiter arrives in the Hungarian capital with high hopes to work as a milliner at the legendary hat store that belonged to her late parents. She is nonetheless sent away by the new owner, Oszkár Brill. While preparations are underway at the Leiter hat store, to host guests of uttermost importance, a man abruptly comes to Irisz, looking for a certain Kálmán Leiter. Refusing to leave the city, the young woman follows Kálmán’s tracks, her only link to a lost past. Her quest brings her through the dark streets of Budapest, where only the Leiter hat store shines, into the turmoil of a civilization on the eve of its downfall.
The first trailer placed great emphasis on cinematographer Mátyás Erdély’s gorgeous 35mm photography as well as a stirring score by László Melis, and these three clips only support that. “Son of Saul” confirmed Nemes to be a master of sight and sound, so expect “Sunset” to be a deeply immersive sonic and visual journey through 1913 Budapest.
Following its debut at Venice, “Sunset” will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8 and it was just bought by Sony Pictures Classics, so perhaps a 2018 release is in the cards later in the year.