Last night we watched the movie “And what about Tommy?”. I’d say I’m usually in the mood for something uplifting after a strong day, but not really.
The film by Attila Till, which debuted in cinemas in October 2024, is a powerful emotional message for those who may still be searching for a way out of the dark labyrinth of alcohol. The film explores themes of alcoholism, friendship and domestic violence.
According to a recent World Health Organisation report, nearly two-thirds of Hungarian men have a drinking problem. And Hungary has one of the highest rates of alcohol problems in the world. It is in this reality that the film takes us on a journey, drawing on the director’s own experiences, which unfortunately can affect everyone, either directly or indirectly.
The film in a nutshell: Sanyi (Szabolcs Thuróczy) is a puppet artist and alcoholic. Pali (Tamás Polgár) is an elevator mechanic and also an alcoholic. Together they search for their friend and Sanyi’s mentor, Tomi (Márton Patkós), who has already skipped several AA meetings. They are worried about him, knowing what this could mean. Meanwhile, they try to stay sober (even if they find reasons to drink “just one” during the day), supporting each other to keep their lives straight and sober. Well, they try, but for an addict it is a torturous process.
One of the greatest virtues of Attila Till’s new film is that it does not become overly, depressingly or annoyingly didactic, a “how to cope with alcoholism” or “how not to beat your family” mouthful, while staying grounded in reality and showing the everyday difficulties of struggling with addiction, it shows how much more and valuable a life free from the bondage of alcohol can be. Obviously it is for everyone, but I feel that it is primarily for those who are still in trouble, saying that you only have to somehow manage these ten minutes or days without alcohol, and if you fail, you can always start again. Get started now. index.hu
This film is not a classic textbook, but it is a clear and accessible reminder of the chaos and addiction caused by self-destruction, self-awareness, self-reflection, emotion regulation, and the absence of unresolved trauma.
Recommended for viewing! (don’t watch it on a weekend, get it over with on a weekday)
I’d say there are some quite humorous scenes in it because there are some (there’s a stomach-churning one, when we’re in the taxi I think you’ll feel the same way) but still the opening frames don’t let you relax very much, you’ll be in constant tension for the first few minutes. And maybe that was the aim.
Aletta Nagy-Kozma
