Please tell us about the projects you worked on before making ‘The Miracle Stag’. How did you start, and how did you learn to make films?
My grandfather was an amateur filmmaker. He put the camera in my hands when I was a kid and that's when I started making short films with my friends. Then I went to work as an assistant at Hungarian Television while I was at university. Then came the music videos and commercials, where I learned how to make films. I made my first feature film, a romantic comedy, in 2004. Then came my two political period thrillers. ‘The Exam’, with which I won a Gold Hugo Award in Chicago, and ‘Trezor’, which received an International Emmy Award nomination. My latest film was the horror ‘Post Mortem’, which won 29 awards, was Hungary's official Oscar entry and has been sold distribution rights to nearly 140 countries from the US to Japan. It was also released on DVD in Japan.
Tell us about ‘The Miracle Stag’. How do you describe it?
‘The Miracle Stag’ is one of my favorite short films. I love the emotional charge and the way I was able to enhance and emphasize the subtle human moments with visual effects. I love the fantasy world and the historical themes. Here I was able to combine both genres. We brought to life the old history and legends of Hungary, the intimacy of nature, the symbolism of hunting and fishing.
Please tell us about your favorite filmmakers.
I grew up on films by Roman Polanski, Ingmar Bergman, Andrey Tarkovsky and David Lean. I was a regular at the movie Film Museum, where they only screened old films. That's where I fell in love with film. They brought me close to the large-scale visuals, the subtle human emotions, the epic tone and the dark humor.
If you were given a good budget, what would be your ideal project?
I would very much like to make a major film about the First World War. There hasn't really been a film about this period in Hungary. I love the action, the excitement and the visuals that bring the human moments together. A war film like this would be ideal for that.
Describe how you would ensure that production is on schedule. What steps would you take?
I believe in a good script and that it can convince investors. I would put it out to bid and approach historical foundations with the idea.
What was the hardest part of making ‘The Miracle Stag’.
We shot ‘The Miracle Stag’ during a coronavirus epidemic in the winter when it was very cold and rainy. We had to wear a facemask the whole time, but in the damp rain, the mask got soaked in minutes, and our glasses fogged up from our breath. The conditions in the forest were terrible.
If possible, tell us about your next work. What plans do you have for your future work?
We are currently working on a ghost story. We are developing a story set over the course of one night, with a Japanese character and a Japanese ghost! My previous film, ‘Post Mortem’, was also about ghosts, and because of its success in Japan, I think it would be worthwhile to do a Japanese co-production on this new film. I am looking for a Japanese production company. Can anyone recommend such a company?
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