The environmental message in Zero, Gyula Nemes’ second feature film, is very strong. But this is where similarities with other films in the genre end. You wouldn’t be wrong to depict Zero as a playground for Nemes’ whimsy.
In only 83 minutes, the film explores several genres, from comedy, environmental parody, melodrama, road movie, and even burlesque. You can see how it might be a bit difficult to categorise it.
Beyond genre experimentation, Nemes pushes the boundaries with his political commentary. Zero risked being banned in Hungary and losing funding from the Hungarian National Film Fund unless a controversial scene was removed. Which Nemes did, but also told his audiences all about it. The offending scene featured a character firing a shot at portraits of leading politicians painted on watermelons, one of them particularly in disagreement with the fund. And the show goes on…
“This is a very subversive film about globalization, capitalism, political dictatorship and pollution,” a jesting Nemes told Hollywood Reporter. “We had very long discussions with the film fund about which fruit we can [use]…watermelons, apples…and which politicians we can shoot into the face and which not.”
If this sparked your interest a little bit, book your tickets for Zero through Sustainable Living Festival now, or buy a EuRaw Stories pass and you’re in.