In Gabor Reisz’s Explanation for Everything (2023), there is a scenario from Budapest that we are not ready to face, probably ever. It centers around four distinctive individuals hoping to gain what’s lost in their emotional journeys. The twist here is what connects them to a bigger discovery.
We have Abel, who is still living in the upshot of his vacation, which has evoked a change. Sleepless nights and vigils have brought out a form of affection towards his love life, Janka. The process of validating love from the other side takes a huge pile of energy from Abel from his current state. However, what seems to be the real deal out of his advancement is a crucial term exam in the middle of all the cupid moments – an exam that supposedly clamps the future of Abel. The thinking map of Abel points right towards the moments of infatuation during the early stages of love. Insecurities and big hopes to move away from the singles club do not have a definite answer, which disturbs Abel occasionally. Yet, his interest in reaching greater heights in his education seems pretty uncanny.
Abel’s father, Gyorgy, comes into the picture as a man filled with many responsibilities. Perhaps the male version of Julie Roy from the 2021 film À plein temps (Full Time) by Eric Gravel. His mode of function is drenched with stress and continuous work schedules, which provide zero space for him to perspire comfortably. Years of being immune to the process flow of tight schedules have also made Gyorgy bold in projecting his views. Through his directive communication, we witness his strong-minded deliverance to decline a customer’s impossible demand on a house design issue. With all these occurrences adding up in his mind capacity, Gyorgy still has one wish that makes him feel worthwhile. A pass on Abel’s term exam is the wishing well for both Gyorgy and his wife.
From a political standpoint, Jakab is introduced as a teacher in Abel’s high school. The nucleus of Jakab’s angle lies in his interest in political history, which has structured Jakab to advocate political revolutions. In a scene, Jakab tries to interview a veteran as part of his documentary shooting session. The veteran, who was involved in a political demonstration many years ago, tries to reimagine the protest session and delivers the story to Jakab. A minor error on the date of the protest evokes an argument between Jakab and the veteran, which moves to an ugly end. We can witness the rage in Jakab’s emotions when things do not agree with his political views. This alarms the element of narcissism in Jakab.
However, another side of Jakab is seen in a delicate manner. Janka seems to be in love with Jakab, touching on student-teacher love relationships. This particular side manages to put Jakab on a sensible stand where he advises Janka to overcome her immature decision of love. The extent to which Jakab patiently settles the affectionate element explains his maturity in handling sensitive issues. Back at home, Jakab struggles with family responsibilities, which showcases him as a lousy partner and father due to his commitments. This is another viewpoint that shares a similar fate as Gyorgy in terms of stressful responsibilities. Gyorgy is a man in favor of politics as well.
Director Gábor Reisz showcases multiple layers of all the individuals to advocate their viewpoints as stand-alone attributes. Joachim Trier portrayed a similar approach in his 2021 film – The Worst Person in the World. Audiences are exposed to the actual process of how decisive thinking works in this current era of modernization. Firstly, expectations are seeded from parents towards their children as a driving force for success. Political views are referenced with respect to history to channel support and grouping, which divides the nation. Love also seems to unravel in many different ways without proper judgment.
The true connection process starts its course during Abel’s term exam, which explodes with uncertainty. The current and past deviations from the term exam raise many questions silently. Was Abel’s hesitation to answer the exam questions raised by the examiners linked to absurdism? Was there an influence of unfairness by Jakab towards Abel due to the political mishap that occurred between Jakab and Gyorgy previously? Has the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 contributed to political extremism in the nation to this very day? Is national unity present in the current generation of youths? Does past trauma affect the progress of gaining knowledge through education? Answers to these questions are left as puzzles for audiences to pick and place them freely. However, what’s certain is that the outcome of the exam turns into a national scandal that changes everything for the individuals.
One of the most vital elements in ‘Explanation for Everything’ lies in the performances of the ensemble, particularly Gyorgy and Jakab. István Znamenák and András Rusznák’s intense performances as Gyorgy and Jakab, respectively, were evident in the meet-up scene in Gyorgy’s home. The shift of pace from mannered talks to argumentative debate induced a tough match among them that involved political views and disparaging remarks. This particular scene is able to magnetize the audience towards the core of the argument – the truth unveiling session. The weakest point of the film lies in the runtime of certain segments that were too lengthy. Scenes of Abel and Janka arguing about love and Gyorgy’s debate with his assistant could have been trimmed.
‘Explanation for Everything,’ which won the Horizons Award at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, is a work of art at most. A polarized society due to political influence can affect all generations, including the ones who just want a carefree life. “We always need someone to hate,” uttered in the film, acts as a tagline for all the individuals to raise their voices independently. The heartbreaking conclusion to Abel’s confrontation with his father can leave you in tears for a long time. Carry a box of tissues with you, just in case.
