R.M.N.

Plot

A few days before Christmas, having quit his job in Germany, Matthias returns to his Transylvanian village. He wishes to involve himself more in the education of his son, Rudi, left for too long in the care of his mother, Ana, and to rid him of the unresolved fears that have gripped him. He’s also eager to see his ex-lover Csilla and preoccupied about his old father, Otto. When a few new workers are hired at the small factory that Csilla manages, the peace of the community is disturbed, underlying fears grip the adults, and frustrations, conflicts and passions erupt through the thin sliver of apparent understanding and calm.

Why watch

Matthias returns to his Transylvanian village just before Christmas, hoping to reconnect with his estranged son and confront the ghosts of his past. As new workers disrupt the fragile peace of the community, tensions rise, revealing deep-seated fears and unresolved conflicts. Watching this film is like stepping into a world where every glance and silence carries the weight of history, and the search for connection is fraught with the complexities of identity and belonging.

Talking points

• the impact of returning home after years away
• the dynamics of small-town life
• the effects of economic migration on family structures
• the nature of fear and prejudice in communities

Cultural context

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