Ich Bin Marika
Hajni Kis
Producer
Júlia Berkes
Lab Edition
11
,
2023
Production
Proton Cinema
Country
Hungary
SYNOPSIS
Marika (55) is cashier in a Budapest supermarket. One day, her long-lost love, Jani (55), re-appears in her life. He takes on a highway construction job in Germany, but causes a mass accident and is imprisoned. Marika decides to do what she can to get him out. In order to pay a lawyer, she goes to work for an elderly couple in Germany. Caring for Ulrich (85) and Susana (82) truly puts her to the test, and Marika’s life is turned drastically upside down.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
I shot my first film in a nursing home for 6 months. Things I saw there changed my outlook on what to present in life. I consider old age to be one of the most important periods, when even the thickest walls we've constructed can collapse in an instant. I would like to highlight the interdependence we humans have, regardless of nationality, culture, language, religion, social class, or gender.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Hajni Kis, director and scriptwriter, graduated from the University of Theatre and Film in Budapest as a director. Her short film Beautiful Figure was nominated for the Student Academy Award and invited to over 100 festivals; Last Call won the Best Student Film Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival and was broadcasted by ARTE and HBO. Her first feature film, Wild Roots, won 17 prizes internationally. Ich Bin Marika is her 2nd feature film project.
PRODUCER
Júlia Berkes
Juli Berkes is a Hungarian producer. After finishing her studies, she began working at Proton Cinema as a line producer and made several international feature films. Since 2009, she has produced a series of shorts and feature films. Her passion lies in finding new young talents of Hungarian cinema. She has produced 5 short films and 3 feature films by Gabor Reisz as well as a short and the first feature film of Hajni Kis. Her latest features include Evolution by Kornél Mundruczó (Cannes, 2021) and Explanation for Everything by Gabor Reisz (premiering later in 2023). Juli is an EAVE and Producers on the Move alumni. Proton Cinema is a Budapest-based independent film and theatre production company. Established in 2003 by producer Viktória Petrányi and director Kornél Mundruczó, the company aims to provide opportunities for creative people who want to see the world and have it seen.
PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE
Company name, city Proton Cinema , Budapest, Hungary contact email berkesjuli@protoncinema.hu
PRODUCTION BUDGET
contact telephone number +3670 422 7110
The production budget in USD :2.582.122 USD
confirmed budget in USD and source : 503.655 USD
Creative Europe /Media Slate : 43.147 USD
Filmjus Fund for scriptwriting: 1402 USD
Tax rebate (automatic): 459.106 USD
LANGUAGE
German, Hungarian, Turkish, English
GENRE
Drama