Bolond Istók

János Arany was nineteen years old when he left the Reformed College in Debrecen and became a travelling actor. He is stubbornly silent about this period in his memoirs, and he is already over fifty by the time he first puts his acting adventure on paper in his unfinished poem novel, Foolish Gods, calling himself Istók.The film by Gábor Rohonyi and Georgina Hegedűs, starring Ágoston Liber, depicts the lesser-known but all the more adventurous early years of one of the most important figures in Hungarian literature, mixing the story of his growing up with romantic elements and the road movie genre.

Directed by Georgina Hegedüs, Gábor Rohonyi, Bolond Istók leans on a strong ensemble — Liber Ágoston, Adél Jordán, Dorottya Gellért — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about history titles of 2024.