I'm the Same, I'm an Other

In this second part of Strubbe”s trilogy, we meet the same characters from her debut film Lost Persons Area, this time aboard a freighter to England. Szabolcs, a Hungarian in his thirties, travels across Western Europe to England in the company of Tess, a little girl that could be his daughter. Gradually it transpires what it is they”re running from. The magnificently filmed journey ends in a hiding place on the English coast, where they are forced to confront their tragic past.

As befits a good road movie, their trip is at the same time a psychological journey. The atmospheric blue-grey images contribute to the sense of emptiness and desolation haunting these tormented characters. The economical use of dialogue adds to the impact of the soundtrack and the landscape. The feelings that the characters find so hard to express because of their burdened past, are successfully conveyed by the music. The camera work matches the overall mood of the film. Desolate landscapes and seascapes that seem to stretch out forever reflect the peace of mind which the protagonists hope to reach but will never find.