News
Leading festival spot for film-maker's debut on the far-right MP with a secret
March 17, 2016 11:47
A film-maker's study of a far-right Hungarian politician who discovered he was Jewish is to premiere at one of the world's most prestigious festivals.
Alex Holder's film, Keep Quiet, about Jobbik party vice-president Csanad Szegedi, will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York next month.
Mr Holder, a former pupil of Hasmonean High School in north-west London, spent three years with Mr Szegedi as he underwent a transformation from antisemite to Orthodox Jew.
The pair spent time with a rabbi in Budapest, met Holocaust survivors and investigated Mr Szegedi's family history.
Keep Quiet is 27-year-old Mr Holder's first commercial film. The AJH Films managing director said: "It's going to be interesting to see the reaction [from audiences]. Obviously the major question will be whether Csanad is a charlatan.
"I have already seen an interesting split: the Orthodox community holding its arms out and embracing Csanad, whereas the non-Orthodox have treated him with scepticism. Both views are entirely understandable."
The film is expected to go on release in Britain later this year.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.