Screening of "Explanation for Everything" (2023)

SCREENING EUROPE Film Club Presents a pearl from the Venice Film Festival and a gripping drama about youth, identity, and the deep societal divides shaping our world, from Hungary to the U.S.

Picture of poster from l'Atelier Populaire des Beaux-Arts, Paris

About the film

Directed by Gábor Reisz, EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING (2023) is a powerful drama that delves into the deep political and social tensions in contemporary Hungary. Set during a sweltering Budapest summer, the story follows high school student Ábel as he struggles to focus on his final exams while navigating unrequited love and the expectations of his conservative father. When a history exam turns into a national scandal, personal conflicts escalate into a microcosm of a society in crisis.

A bold, nuanced film that blends the personal with the political, EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING challenges audiences to reflect on the forces shaping young people’s lives today.

Before the screening, Miklós Sükösd, Associate Professor in Media at the University of Copenhagen, and an expert on contemporary Hungary, will give a short introduction to contextualize the film’s themes.

About the director

Gábor Reisz is one of Hungary’s most exciting contemporary filmmakers. He graduated in Film History and Theory at ELTE in 2006 and later studied film directing at the University of Theatre and Film Arts, Budapest. His debut feature, For Some Inexplicable Reason (2014), became a cult classic in Hungary, while his second film, Bad Poems (2018), won 16 awards and was named Best Hungarian Film of the Year. Explanation for Everything is his third feature film, further cementing his reputation for tackling complex social issues through a deeply human lens.

Registrations are mandatory at petar@hum.ku.dk.