Kornél Mundruczó has been followed with attention by all major world festivals and has received many awards at Cannes, Locarno, Sarajevo, Cottbus and many other film forums for his previous films "White God", "Delta" and "Pleasant Days". He is known to the Bulgarian audience and his new film will give them a genre surprise.
When Kornél Mundruczó was nominated for his third film with the big prize in "Un Certain Regard" section at Cannes and for his next film in 2008 he received the FIPRESCI award, and was nominated with "Palme d'Or" - all specialists became aware that a serious voice in Hungarian cinema has emerged. His work is followed and appreciated by the authorities in the world of cinema. In 2010 and 2014 two more films followed, one with a "Palme d'Or" nomination, the other with the Special Prize in "Un Certain Regard" section, also the special "Palm Dog" for the unique dog actors who recreated the great story in the "White God". Let’s not miss mentioning the impressive "Pleasant Days", which won the first big prize for best film at Sofia Film Fest in 2003. Last year, the director presented in Cannes "Jupiter’s Moon", boldly entering the genre cinema with a hot topic by reflecting on the refugee crisis through the lens of supernatural. The main question with which the author of the film wants to provoke the audience is "Do I have to believe what I see?"
A young immigrant is shot down while illegally crossing the border. Terrified and in shock, wounded Aryan can now mysteriously levitate at will. Thrown into a refugee camp, he is smuggled out by Dr. Stern, intending to exploit his extraordinary secret. Pursued by enraged camp director Laszlo, the fugitives remain on the move in search of safety and money. Inspired by Aryan's amazing powers, Stern takes a leap of faith in a world where miracles are trafficked for small change...
The film turns into a dramatic story with superheroic elements that poses important questions and focuses on the protagonist as well as on the complications his "gift" encumbers him. The major roles are entrusted to Merab Ninidze, György Cserhalmi, Monika Balsai and Zsombor Jéger.
“The juxtaposition of supernatural thriller tropes and urgent socio-political issues in Kornél Mundruczó’s latest movie — an original take on the superhero origin story set to the backdrop of the refugee crisis — might prove a delicate one for some viewers to take. Those unperturbed, however, should find much to relish in "Jupiter’s Moon", a film that somewhat lightly plays with themes of religion and immigration as it rumbles, crashes, and ultimately soars through the streets of the Hungarian capitol. It’s a tricky balance and Mundruczó strikes it with style and confidence (even going so far as to signpost it in an opening prologue that reminds the audience that the titular gas giant’s largest orbiting body is called Europa, and that many believe that large oceans rest beneath its icy surface where a “cradle of life” might exist). The hero of "Jupiter’s Moon", a young Syrian refugee with the connotation heavy name of Aryan, does not find a “cradle of life” in his Europa. To the contrary, in fact, he’s gunned down in the opening minutes…” „The Film Stage", Rory O’Connor