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The Restless Hungarian

Play trailer 2:08 Poster for The Restless Hungarian 2022 1h 46m Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
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In this searingly honest melding of the personal and historical, filmmaker Tom Weidlinger uncovers the epic story of four generations. Central to the story is Tom's father, Paul Weidlinger, a brilliant structural engineer who fled Europe just ahead of the Holocaust but who kept a secret, even from his children: the fact that he was a Jew. The film unfolds over five decades and countless countries and cities as Weidlinger traces his famous father's account of his fantastical life. Attempting to untangle truth from fiction, he uncovers a hidden story and lays bare the scars from his family's experience of war, displacement, and immigration. Combining documentary material with recreated scenes from his own childhood, the filmmaker discovers how family tragedies, psychosis, and suicide are manifestations of historical trauma passed on from one generation to the next. Tom Weidlinger's profoundly thoughtful quest makes meaning from his family's suffering, resulting in a healing work that breaks the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

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The Restless Hungarian

Critics Reviews

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Ruth Maramis FlixChatter Film Blog 08/21/2023
3/5
Despite the slow pace, it's a filmmaker's honest & heartfelt journey to reconcile his fractured past relationship with his famous father. Tom Weidlinger wants his family to feel ‘seen’ and I think he achieved that. Go to Full Review Anne Brodie What She Said 08/11/2023
4/4
Only as a man in his 60s did Tom Weidliner learn he was Jewish. His journey is the heart of the film as he confronts his trauma, and his parents’ legacies. What a tale, life is indeed stranger than fiction. Go to Full Review Federico Furzan Movie-Blogger.com 08/11/2023
2.8/5
Almost 10 years in the making, The Restless Hungarian is also a film about Weirdlinger's perception of his father and how a mystery modeled him into a curious man whose lifestyle consisted of seeking answers about the missing elements of his family. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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SkyRo P @TheMovieSearch May 28 "The Restless Hungarian" is a documentary that I initially mistook for a traditional film. However, as I began to watch it, I realized it was more of a documentary narrative, presumably telling the story of the original subject. Unfortunately, the experience was marred by a monotonous narration that made it quite tedious to sit through. I struggled to engage with the content, as the director seemed to lack a clear focus on the source material and the central theme we were meant to explore. Coupled with the droning voice of the narrator, it became difficult to fully grasp the essence of the story being told. Overall, it felt like a significant misstep in both cinematography and editing. The disorganized presentation left everything feeling chaotic rather than coherent, which is essential for a documentary. Because of this, I would strongly recommend giving it a pass. See more Read all reviews
The Restless Hungarian

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Cast & Crew

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Tom Weidlinger

Director

Paul Weidlinger

Self

Edina Kenesei

Line Producer

Tom Weidlinger

Executive Producer

Tom Weidlinger

Cinematographer

Tom Weidlinger

Film Editing
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The Restless Hungarian

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The Restless Hungarian

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this searingly honest melding of the personal and historical, filmmaker Tom Weidlinger uncovers the epic story of four generations. Central to the story is Tom's father, Paul Weidlinger, a brilliant structural engineer who fled Europe just ahead of the Holocaust but who kept a secret, even from his children: the fact that he was a Jew. The film unfolds over five decades and countless countries and cities as Weidlinger traces his famous father's account of his fantastical life. Attempting to untangle truth from fiction, he uncovers a hidden story and lays bare the scars from his family's experience of war, displacement, and immigration. Combining documentary material with recreated scenes from his own childhood, the filmmaker discovers how family tragedies, psychosis, and suicide are manifestations of historical trauma passed on from one generation to the next. Tom Weidlinger's profoundly thoughtful quest makes meaning from his family's suffering, resulting in a healing work that breaks the cycle of intergenerational trauma.
Director
Tom Weidlinger
Screenwriter
Tom Weidlinger
Distributor
Filmhub
Production Co
Moira Productions
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 9, 2023
Runtime
1h 46m
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