Growing Down

Director: Bálint Dániel Sós
Script: Bálint Dániel Sós, Gergö V. Nagy
Cinematography: Kristóf Deák
Editing: Márton Gothár
Music: Máriusz Fodor, Ambrus Tövisházi
Producers: Ádám Farkas, Zoltán Mártonffy
Cast: Szabolcs Hajdu, Ágoston Sáfrány, Anna Hay, Zonga Jakab-Aponyi, Zsófia Szamosi

Hungary 2025
84′

language: hungarian
subtitles: polish-english

One of the most important films in the Berlinale’s Perspectives section is this crime-infused moral thriller, a black-and-white film in which nothing is black and white. The debut from Hungarian director Bálint Dániel Sós offers its protagonist a dramatic choice to lie in defense of his son, or to tell the truth, which could transform the 12-year-old’s life forever. Sándor, a widower raising two children, is trying to start anew with a fresh relationship and a hopeful future. But an accident at a party hosted by his new partner and her daughter shatters his quiet sense of euphoria. Who should he protect? What is worth fighting for? Most importantly – who should he believe? Sós captures and recasts the everyday dilemmas of parenting as Greek tragedy. He sharply examines questions of trust and the complex navigation between parental love, the need for adult validation, and the pressure to uphold social norms. And as with any honest story about fatherhood, there’s no shortage of dark humour. Thanks to its formal choices, Sós’s film transcends its setting: the black-and-white palette lends it timelessness, while striking cinematography of Budapest lifts the story beyond its local roots. Surprising architectural compositions build a world of ethical dystopia, immersing us in the tangled labyrinth of adulthood—where inner conflict and well-intentioned mistakes rule.