GENTLE (2022)
[SZELÍD]
Bulging biceps, bronze bodies and systemic steroid abuse are par for the course in the competitive world of bodybuilding. Edina (Eszter Csonka), a tender woman beneath her burly muscles, quietly adheres to the rigorous regimen ordained by her partner and coach Ádám, himself a former champion whose dreams of glory seem to overshadow Edina's own. When she joins a network of bodybuilding escorts to raise funds for the ever-costlier training program, Edina finds a sense of liberation and, through one of the clients, the hope that perhaps there is more to her life than sculpting her body to a dangerous degree. With GENTLE, co-directors László Csuja and Anna Nemes present a nuanced portrayal of female bodybuilding that lives up to its name while never shying away from the brutal lifestyle that wrecks body and spirit alike. Csonka, a real-life bodybuilder and non-professional actor, is the heart of the film, turning in a reserved and sympathetic performance that avoids pity and sensationalism. Official Selection, 2022 Sundance Film Festival. DIR/SCR László Csuja, Anna Nemes; PROD Gábor Ferenczy, András Muhi. Hungary/Germany, 2022, color, 93 min. In Hungarian with English subtitles. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 93 Minutes
Opening Date: Sunday, December 18, 2022
Genre: Sports, drama
