This year the Critic’s Pick competition features its first animation, “Pelikan Blue”, by László Csáki.

Surely everyone who grew up before 1989 on the “eastern side” of the Iron Curtain will relate to this astonishing animation. The film follows three young Hungarians, who decide to travel to the West with fake train tickets. What starts as a fun idea turns quickly into a lucrative black-market job model. Soon the authorities are on their tracks. The film is based on an original idea by Gabor Sipos, who produced the Oscar-winning “Son of Saul”.

The visual style is unique and matches the topic, we immediately feel transferred to those times. The documentary footage is chosen wisely and is very entertaining. This outstanding animation makes you relive those “dark” times hoping that they never return.

Niki Nikitin