>>>RUNDOWN (Hungary)
Everyone has a history. And everyone carries it with them.
120 minutes – it is enough to change everything. During this time three everyday tragedies happen in an anonymous Eastern European metropolis.
Margó, the overworked waitress, has been neglecting her little son, Luli. The boy’s behaviour is becoming more and more erratic; he is becoming introverted and is fighting with his schoolmates. Margó spots bruises on Luli’s body. She thinks that her son is being beaten and humiliated at school. Luli explains to his mother that his karate coach, Sensei, is the one who has hit him. The Sensei takes young boys to his place, where he plays intimately with them, then threatens them not to talk. According to Luli, one little boy, Petykó, is still locked up in Sensei’s house. Margó does not know if she should believe Luli’s charges. But when she sees on a notice that the 7-year-old boy disappeared three days before, she decides to dig out the truth. During a karate training she steals Sensei’s keys from the locker room to find out whether a little boy is really locked away in the house of the pedophile trainer…
Peter, the speed-addicted ambulance doctor, has to take in a seriously injured man. The patient, Ladik, is under police surveillance as a key witness in an investigation. Peter recognizes a tattoo on the man’s chest: two hideous blue fighting dragons – the same as the man's who murdered Peter’s child years before. The doctor faces a strong moral dilemma: should he save this man’s life, or should he take the opportunity for revenge? Peter chooses vengeance. He helps Ladik flee, and hides the uncomprehending man in a half-finished family house. There, he tortures him, but as a doctor he is not capable of destroying human life. Desperate, he calls his wife for help. But the cops arrive first, and Ladik manages to escape. Peter pursues him…
Alma, the veteran speed-skater, is being stalked by a mysterious man who leaves unsettling reminders of her past in her flat. Alma has struggled with guilt for a long time. She caused a woman’s death years ago, but her crime remained unpunished. Until now. Following the signs, she finds that her stalker is a lonely, old, alcoholic ex-police officer, Lajos. She follows him, attempting to find out what he wants. But she makes a mistake when she wants to get in touch with him. The old man does not want to make conversation and tries to kidnap Alma, but instead nearly comes down with a heart attack. Alma takes Lajos to his home to find out who he is. Using psychological terror, Lajos forces Alma to stay with him in his flat, but refuses to reveal his intentions towards her. Alma discovers that Lajos is none other than the widower of the woman she killed years ago…
Six ordinary people have to face these extraordinary crises. Who do average people prove to be in extreme situations? And what connects their fates?
"Rundown" is a multi-strand drama and a cutting-edge thriller with a touch of everyday reality, taking us on a deep, risqué journey into the horror living next door.
Balázs Lovas
Born: Hajdúböszörmény, 1977.03.20.
He is the founder of FadeIn Script Consulting with scriptwriters Gábor Krigler and Bálint Hegedüs. In 2005 he was guest teacher and lecturer at the Budapest Media Institute on the subject of screenplay writing.
He is a co-founder and teacher of Filmhu Screenwriting School. Since 2001 he has worked as an editor of the Hungarian movie portal magyar.film.hu and hungarianfilm.com.
Education:
2000 - 2005 Szeged University Budapest Media Institute, Communication-media management, postgraduate
1995 – 2000 Eötvös Loránd University, MA in History
Filmography:
Born to Lose 2006(series for HBO Central Europe) – screenwriter in the FadeIn team
Dope 2006 (series developed by FadeIn) - co-writer, creator
Konec 2005 (feature, dir.: Gábor Rohonyi) - screenwriter
Kész cirkusz (Bedlam)2004 (feature, d.: Zsombor Dyga) - co-writer, first assistant director
Utolér (Rundown) 2003 – FilmJus award-winning feature script
Elveszett gyerekek (Billog) 2003 – feature script in production (d.: Márton Nyitrai)
Tesó (Bro') 2002 ( feature, dir.: Zsombor Dyga) - 34th Hungarian Film Week – Best Debut Screenplay
Uno 2001 (dir.: Zsombor Dyga) (short) - screenwriter, assistant director, storyboard artist
Gödörben (In a Hole) 2001 (feature script, 2nd Prize at the Hartley-Merrill International Screenwriting Contest)
'öcsögök ('ickheadz) 2000 (feature, dir.: Zsombor Dyga) - screenwriter, assistant director, art director
Tempo 2000 (short, dir.: Zsombor Dyga) - co-writer
Gyilkosok (Killers)1999 (feature, dir.: Zsombor Dyga) - co-writer, assistant director, art director (in competition at the 8th Festival des Films Action et Adventure Valenciennes 2001)
Séta (Roaming the Streets)1998 (feature, dir.: Zsombor Dyga) - screenwriter, assistant director
