Empty Horses

If this is heaven, bring on the afterlife! The spirits of legendary Hungarian filmmakers Michael Curtiz and Gábor Bódy meet in a metaphysical screening room, while on the screen footage plays of classic twentieth-century films.

Based loosely on their individual biographies, this found-footage essay film not only presents a clash of personalities – Curtiz emigrated to the United States when the Communists took over in Hungary, while Bódy remained in Hungary – this is above all a battle between two different film styles. Curtiz (originally Kertész) is a little older and directed more than a hundred and fifty productions during Hollywood's 'Golden Age'. Bódy became a pioneer of experimental, avant-garde work and a highly respected film theoretician. As images that are ingrained in our collective consciousness flicker by on the screen, a dialogue about life, work and art between two geniuses unfolds.