25 & 27 Jun 2009

Filmhouse 1, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ; Tel. 0131 228 2688
Tickets: £8.50 (£7.50 concessions)
Screenings take place at 20.00 on 25 June, and 20.25 on 27 June.

Katalin Varga

Romania, UK, Hungary / 2008 / 84 mins / Hungarian and Romanian with English subtitles
Directed by Peter Strickland. Cast: Hilda Peter, Tibor Palffy, Norbert Tanko, Melinda Kantor, Sebastian Marina, Roberto Giacomello, Laszlo Matray

A powerful and elegant debut by the British directorial discovery of the year. At once a road movie, a revenge narrative and a compassionate study of the drawn-out effects of trauma, Peter Strickland’s Transylvania-set drama is a remarkable achievement. Hilda Peter plays the titular rural woman, whose life is irrevocably altered when she reveals a violent secret from her past.

Kicked out by her husband, Katalin sets out to confront her demons – an odyssey which draws her into danger, uncertainty and possible redemption.

‘Katalin Varga’ was this year’s Berlinale revelation, showing how the low-budget restraints can be used by the right director, film crew and cast to very impressive effects.

Supported by the Ratiu Foundation
Details on www.edfilmfest.org.uk .