I Am Not Your Friend (2009) User Reviews

An interesting method does not guarantee quality

[peter-toth-656-165434 · 3/10 · 8 February 2010]

A film of improvisations? It sure sounds interesting. Sadly, the results are less than stellar. The plot is neither exciting nor touching, and it only gets messier and less focused during the film. The acting is in some parts pretty good but many of the dialogues are stale and unconvincing - as are the characters themselves. Here the lack of a good script really shines through.

During the screening I was to, some of the audience left before the end. I stayed, but I don't really know for what. Despite some good moments, I felt I had wasted my time. At the end of the day, this is more of an experiment than a real film, surely more interesting and fun to the cast and crew than to the audience.

P.S. The description ("...a taste of Budapest in January 2008") implies that the city itself plays some sort of role in the plot, or that the audience will at least get a glimpse of the city and of city life. Neither of this is true, which disappointed me.

P.S.S. The accompanying film with kindergarten kids was really good. Those kids outshine the adult cast in "Nem vagyok a barátod".

An unknown and underestimated relative of Dogma 95

[bilbisovo · 9/10 · 22 March 2020]

Despite the imrovisations the film has a very strong plot between the characters and the story makes sense, giving each one of them a specific conclusion. The big advantage of this film is its dark, urban atmosphere. Located in Budapest though gives the impression that could be anywhere in Europe. The hungarian language adds an extra level of strangeness.

Another strong aspect are the kinda musical parts, where each character signs a song which lyrics are represantative for his past or future.

A little gem that i have the luck to watch in Thessaloniki FIlm Festival and years later bought in a visit in Budapest.