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Palm Springs International Film Festival 2018: Jupiter's Moon


Starring: Merab Ninidze, Zsombor Jéger, György Cserhalmi, and Mónika Balsai
Directed by: Kornél Mundruczó
Screenplay by: Kornél Mundruczó and Kata Wéber

      Jupiter's Moon is one of three foreign films I saw at this year's Palm Springs International Film Festival.  It is also one of two Hungarian films that I saw.  
     A young man is trying to escape from Syria.  He is one of millions of people fleeing the war torn country and attempting to seek refuge in Europe.  He and many other people are just about to cross the border into Hungary when they are ambushed by border police.  This particular young man is Aryan Dashni (Zsombor Jéger).  After being shot multiple times in the stomach and chest and being captured, it appears he gains a mysterious ability.  He can levitate.  While recovering in a refugee camp, the camp doctor, Dr. Stern (Merab Ninidze), discovers Aryan has this ability.  He then sneaks Aryan out of the camp trying to find a safe place for him to hide while also exploiting his levitating ability for personal financial gain.  Dr. Stern does what he can to get Aryan to stay in the country legally, but when he becomes a suspect in a terrorist attack, it gets very difficult for Dr. Stern to help him; not because Dr. Stern doesn't want to, but because allies and people he trusts begin to be more watchful.  They must also be on the lookout from the police.  The refugee camp director, Laszlo (György Cserhalmi), someone Dr. Stern knows quite well, is on to him.  Laszlo works closely with the police to ensure Aryan's return to the camp, possibly for deportation. 
     At first this film is pretty straightforward.  However, as the film progresses, the story becomes more convoluted and less clear.  It is a dramatic film about the struggle European nations deal with regarding a massive influx of immigrants and refugees, many of whom are Muslim.  But more importantly, it highlights the difficulties these refugees are met with once they arrive in Europe.  It also highlights how some people are only willing to help others if there is a potential benefit for themselves.  Dr. Stern offers to help get the money for Aryan to get papers so he can stay in the country legally, but it is very expensive.  Stern already has his hands in some shady business and a way he figures he can collect some of the money people owe him is to show off Aryan's abilities to them.  They never get all the money required to get Aryan his papers, but it is not clear what would have happened had they gotten all of the money.  Would Stern actually have helped Aryan, or would he have just kicked Aryan to the curb and kept the money for himself? 
     There are some action sequences in this film, but it is mainly a drama.  The film is well acted and well directed.  It provides an interesting perspective on the situation that some European countries, like Hungary are facing, regarding the refugees.  Unfortunately, much of the setting seems to be in dark places, places that look run down and full of graffiti.  One could make the argument that it even looks somewhat like a dystopia.  Jupiter's Moon is not my favorite film I saw at this festival, but certainly an intriguing film that deserves to be seen.

I give Jupiter's Moon a B-.

Image Source: Palm Springs International Film Festival

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