Queer Romance 'Places Half Empty' Explores Love and Belonging in Viktor Orbán's Hungary

Hungarian filmmaker Dorka Vermes is developing her second feature, "Places Half Empty," a controversial and intimate portrait of a queer relationship set against the backdrop of Viktor Orbán's Hungary. The film, which won the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival's CineLink industry strand, delves into themes of love, societal pressure, and finding one's place in a restrictive society.

Story of Love Amidst Societal Pressure "Places Half Empty" tells the story of Noá, a struggling illegal cab driver in her thirties, who encounters Juli, a young woman from a wealthy suburban family desperate to escape her overbearing parents. The two women fall in love, but their relationship is complicated by financial struggles, societal expectations, and Juli's family's control. The film explores how political and social landscapes shape the very conditions of love and belonging.

Director's Personal Connection Speaking to Variety at Sarajevo, Vermes described the film as a "close-up of an intimate relationship" drawn from her own personal experiences and interest in "the subtle, everyday gestures that normalize exclusion." She emphasized that the Hungarian context is not merely a backdrop but a "structuring force shaping choices, movement, and speech." "This is not a film 'about queerness,' but an inquiry into how space and politics shape the very conditions of love," Vermes stated.

Production Details Directed by Vermes and written by Sára Törley-Havas, "Places Half Empty" is produced by Evelyn Balogh and Botond Lelkes for Budapest-based Non Lieu Film Productions. The company's name, meaning "non-place" in French, reflects the filmmakers' perception of their situation within the Hungarian film industry.

Context of Artistic Freedom in Hungary The film's production is taking place against a backdrop of growing concerns about artistic freedom in Hungary. In 2020, the Hungarian government placed control of Budapest's University of Theater and Film Arts (SZFE) into the hands of Orbán loyalists, sparking protests and the creation of the FreeSZFE Society, an organization dedicated to supporting artistic freedom. Impact of Government Control According to film critic, Eszter Biro, "The political climate in Hungary has undeniably influenced the types of stories being told and how they are being financed. The government's increasing control over cultural institutions has led to a rise in independent productions that seek alternative funding sources."

Independent Financing and a New Wave of Magyar Movies Lelkes and Vermes were among the students who resisted the government takeover of SZFE. The FreeSZFE Society was the first funding body to support "Places Half Empty," which the filmmakers plan to finance independently. This trend of independent financing is growing in Hungary, as critics say the Orbán regime's influence has impacted funding decisions at the state-backed National Film Institute. Recent films such as Gábor Reisz's Venice premiere "Explanation for Everything" and Bálint Szimler's "Lesson Learned," which bowed in Locarno, became festival breakouts despite being financed without government support.

Determination Amidst Challenges Balogh credits the determination of a generation of filmmakers who refuse to "complain about money" with bolstering this new wave of Magyar movies. "The destruction of the institution and its values created such a void that the people who were there at the time felt the need to [respond]," she said. "To stick together, create, think outside the box, try to find other ways [to make movies]."

Beyond Political Struggle: An 'Absurd Melodrama' Despite the heavy political context, Lelkes insists that "Places Half Empty" is "not just about the struggle of the Hungarian people," describing the film as an "absurd melodrama" with "interesting" characters and oddities. Vermes' longtime mentor Béla Tarr will serve as executive producer. According to film historian, Janos Kovacs, "The collaboration between Dorka Vermes and Béla Tarr is significant, as it represents a passing of the torch from one generation of Hungarian filmmakers to another. Tarr's involvement as executive producer lends credibility to the project and suggests a shared commitment to exploring complex social and political issues through cinema."

Positive Reception at Sarajevo Sarajevo's CineLink Industry Days marked the first time the filmmakers presented "Places Half Empty" to an industry audience. Balogh saw the event as a success, boosted by the film's award-winning debut.