Latest feature Films
Pelikan Blue
When the Hungarian borders open in 1989, three friends come up with a clever plan to get their hands on the unaffordable train tickets they need to travel. A mix of documentary-style interviews and reenactments show viewers how a whole generation got the opportunity to discover the world.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of the borders, travel is finally possible, but too expensive for most young adults in Hungary. By forging international train tickets, the three friends, Ákos, Petya and Rozi, provide an entire generation the opportunity to live out their new-found sense of freedom. Their motto: “Stealing from another man is a crime, but stealing from the state is mafnificent.” The forgeries were only possible because at the time the Hungarian railway company used “Pelikan Blue” paper for its tickets, which allowed the printed text to be removed.
Director Csáki László used archival audio recordings made between 2011 and 2021 as the source material for the film. He combined the animation with archive video recordings on Super-8 mm film, which lends “Pelikan Blue” a colourful vitality. When juxtaposed with background music with such tracks as “Eroding Europe” by Sexepil, a mood is created that is characterised by lightness and summer feelings.
The film was nominated for the Contrechamp Award at this year’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival and was honoured with a Special Mention at Animafest Zagreb. The film celebrates its Swiss premiere at Fantoche. (Katerina Vesela)
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of the borders, travel is finally possible, but too expensive for most young adults in Hungary. By forging international train tickets, the three friends, Ákos, Petya and Rozi, provide an entire generation the opportunity to live out their new-found sense of freedom. Their motto: “Stealing from another man is a crime, but stealing from the state is mafnificent.” The forgeries were only possible because at the time the Hungarian railway company used “Pelikan Blue” paper for its tickets, which allowed the printed text to be removed.
Director Csáki László used archival audio recordings made between 2011 and 2021 as the source material for the film. He combined the animation with archive video recordings on Super-8 mm film, which lends “Pelikan Blue” a colourful vitality. When juxtaposed with background music with such tracks as “Eroding Europe” by Sexepil, a mood is created that is characterised by lightness and summer feelings.
The film was nominated for the Contrechamp Award at this year’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival and was honoured with a Special Mention at Animafest Zagreb. The film celebrates its Swiss premiere at Fantoche. (Katerina Vesela)
Info
Duration 79'
Country HU, 2023
Appointments & Tickets
Wed 4.9. • 20:45
Cinema Trafo 2
Sat 7.9. • 18:30
Cinema Trafo 3
Sun 8.9. • 14:15
Cinema Trafo 2