12/08/2022 - We present a first look at the trailer for Botond Püsök's Romanian-Hungarian documentary set to world-premiere at the Bosnian festival

Romanian-Hungarian director Botond Püsök will world-premiere his first feature documentary Too Close [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] in the documentary competition at the Sarajevo Film Festival (12-19 August) and here is the first look at the film's trailer. Too Close was produced by Romania's Luna Film, represented by Irina Andreea Malcea (who was behind one of Romania’s best recent documentaries, Alex Brendea’s Teach [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and co-produced by Hungarian outfit Spot Productions, represented by András S. Takács and Eszter Cseke.

Too Close follows Andrea, a 40-something woman living in a small, conservative community in rural Transylvania. Andrea would do anything in her power to provide for her teenage daughter and young son, but her efforts are constantly challenged by the other members of the community, who seem unable to forget a dark part of the woman’s past: following her accusations of child abuse, her former partner, a man hailing from an affluent, clerical family in the region, ended up in prison. The news of the man’s early release sends the protagonist’s life in turmoil. She is determined to fight for her right to a normal life, but does she have any chance in changing the community’s victim-blaming mentality and the malfunctioning Romanian justice system?

Director Botond Püsök says that, while preparing for the production, he was stunned to realise the way many people relate to child abuse: “They know it’s something terrible, but so distant at the same time, that they would never imagine that it could happen to someone close to them. They know it is out there, and it exists; but as a feeling, it is closer to fiction than reality.” Püsök also says that his documentary explores a reality no one can turn their eyes from: “Andrea could be anybody’s mother, and her daughter could be anybody’s sister or friend. If we connect to them through the basic feeling of love and empathy, we can join them in their fight for a new life. I wanted the story to capture the darkness of the past, but also to have lots of light and inspiration thanks to their perseverance,” the director explains.

Too Close is being internationally handled by Rise and Shine. Plans for a domestic release are being made for the spring of 2023.

Check out our exclusive trailer below: