Parallax
Text by Kata Wéber
Directed by Kornél Mundruczó/Proton Theatre
As part of the 2024 Autumn Festival
in Hungarian, surtitled in French
Length: 1hrs.50 min
Berthier 17e
By and with Soma Boronkay, Emőke Kiss-Végh, Erik Major, Bence Mezei, Csaba Molnár, Lili Monori, Roland Rába and Sándor Zsótér
Internationally recognised theatre director and filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó founded his independent company Proton Theatre in Hungry, through which he presents powerful sometimes upsetting creations that he develops on stage in collaboration with the writer Kate Wéber. Three characters are at the centre of Parallax: in Budapest, an elderly Jewish woman, who refuses to receive a concentration camp survivor medal from the current Hungarian government; in Berlin, her daughter who needs to prove her Jewish identity to receive the benefits granted to it in Germany and enrol her son in a good school; and her son who is only interested in his identity as a homosexual. Parallax (a term that refers to the change in the point of view placed on an object) delves into this paradox: how can an identity be both a burden and a privilege?
Dans la presse
« Mundruczó doesn’t make our situation any easier. His theatre is unsettling. His masterful company, Proton Theatre performs at the Wiener Festwochen for the seventh time. » – Die Presse (Austria)
« The word ’play’ is far from sufficient to describe what we see on stage. Proton Theatre from Budapest, founded by Kornél Mundruczó 15 years ago, is a theatrical wonder. The acting is perfectly lifelike. It is impossible to imagine that they do not identify with their characters – despite the fact that we’ve already seen most of them in various different roles over the last few years. » – nachtkritik.de (Germany)
« The art of Kornél Mundruczó is characterized by a theatricality that is deeply imbued with thoughts. The performance Parallax, which he produced together with his independent company, Proton Theatre, is one of the highlights of the Wiener Festwochen. In a visual world that alternates between hyperrealism and poetic surrealism, this world premiere unveils the weight of transgenerational trauma through the stories of three generations that have lost their identities as a result of the Holocaust. Using the sensual power of theatre Mundruczó formulates a valid statement that goes beyond what is learned and experienced. » – Die Deutsche Bühne (Germany)
« The highlight of the Wiener Festwochen is a world premiere that will not be shown in the director’s home country, Hungary. Marginalised groups are put in the focus: the family of a Jewish woman who was born in a concentration camp, and her underage grandchild’s queer identity. The action takes place in a run-down Budapest flat. The realistic performance of Mundurczó’s fantastic company is a must see. » – Profil (Austria)
« Proton Theatre’s world premiere was greeted with exultant celebration at the Wiener Festwochen. Mundruczó’s new production is a triptych in terms of content: each act focuses on one character – mother, daughter, grandchild. In-between there is a jump in time, which the director presents with a breathtaking visual realisation. » – KURIER (Austria)
« This company is brilliant. (…) The characters they shape with empathy and love seem absolutely real, just as their relationships with each other. I would especially like to highlight Lili Monori’s acting. Watching her, watching them is a truly unique experience.» – ARD Audiothek (Germany)
