Wild East at the Hungarian Puszta

The vast prairie landscapes of Hungary provide the background for Délibáb ('Mirage'), the new movie by young Hungarian director Szabolcs Hajdu released in Hungary this week. In September, it was a great success at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The film tells the story of an
African footballer, Francis, who is forced to flee from the authorities after
the sale of a match. He finds refuge in a secluded farmhouse deep in the heart
of the puszta (the Hungarian prairie), but soon realizes that the farm is
actually a modern-day slave colony.

By appearing there, he stirs
up the life of the locals. The prisoners, who are sunk into apathy, see him as
a savior, while Cisco, the ruler of the farm considers him a rival. However, Francis
does not wish to play the role of the hero. He attempts to escape at the first
opportunity, but it is impossible to navigate the treacherous landscapes, the
mirage of the puszta.

For is escape attempt, he is
put among the slaves and becomes an involuntarily rebel. It is the toughest
match of his life where not only his freedom is at stake but the survival,
itself. ‘Mirage’ is a modern tale that combines the traditions of Hungarian
cinema and the western genre about today's Hungary, racism, equality, power and
freedom.