MOVIE REVIEW – We live in a world where the forces of nature can only be harnessed for so long, and when the process is irreversible, the only option is self-sacrifice. Budapest is the last refuge, but even there people live in a dark, dystopian society. A couple struggle for their lives and love in this cold, dictatorial world, while the city is obscured by a plastic sky.

White Plastic Sky is a bold and compelling vision of a possible future in which humanity faces the consequences of an environmental crisis. The film combines rotoscopic animation and 3D animation in a unique style to create a picture of a Hungary turned to ruin. This unique work tells not only an exciting sci-fi story, but also a deeply human drama that raises questions of life, death, responsibility and hope.

The contrast between destruction and hope: the visual style of the film

The film is set in a Hungary a hundred years later, rendered uninhabitable by a mysterious ecological disaster. The Carpathian Basin has become a desert, the wildlife has died out, food and oxygen have run out. The country’s remaining population has been forced back to Budapest, which is protected from extreme weather by an artificial dome. Under the dome, all is not rosy: people have 50 years to live, after which they are planted with seeds to grow into nutritious trees. This sacrifice is necessary to keep the city functioning and surviving.

The world of White Plastic Sky is stunningly detailed and elaborate. The creators have taken great care to depict the landscapes and buildings of a future Hungary, as well as life in Budapest under the dome. The visuals are stunning and authentic, with a contrast of decay and hope. The locations include well-known and iconic sites such as the Chain Bridge, the Parliament, Madách Square and the Centrum department store in Miskolc. The style is unique and special, using a rotoscope animation process to redraw live action sequences shot with actors. The technique was designed to give realism to the characters and emotions, and to allow the creation of monumental sci-fi sets. In some scenes, 3D animation was also used to further emphasise the difference between the world below and above the dome.

A couple’s fight for life and love

The film tells not only a thrilling sci-fi story, but also a deeply human drama that raises questions of life, death, responsibility and hope. The protagonists are a married couple whose relationship has been damaged by a past tragedy. The wife, Nora, decides to end her life voluntarily in order to at least do something useful. And husband Stefan will do anything to save her and win back her love.

The plot explores whether it makes sense to fight for something that is an illusion, a tattered remnant of the old world and culture, or to let evolution work and take the reins out of our hands. The White Plastic Sky also asks the question of the cost of maintaining human civilisation in an environment that no longer supports it.

It is a message that humanity must face up to the consequences of the environmental crisis and take responsibility for its own destiny. The film also suggests that even in such a desperate situation, there is room for human emotions such as love, sorrow or joy.

A dystopian dark future

The White Plastic Sky is a bold, compelling and heartbreaking vision of a possible dystopian future in which humanity faces the consequences of an environmental crisis. The film combines rotoscopic animation and 3D animation in a unique style to create a picture of a Hungary turned to ruin. The White Plastic Sky tells not only a thrilling sci-fi story, but also a deeply human drama that raises questions of life, death, responsibility and hope. The film combines rotoscopic animation and 3D animation in a unique style to create a picture of a Hungary turned to ruin. The film tells not only an exciting sci-fi story, but also a deeply human drama that raises questions of life, death, responsibility and hope.

The directors Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó have made a great film with their first feature. The film is well constructed, tense and emotional. The directors skilfully introduce the viewer to the world of the film and present the motivations and conflicts of the main characters. The pacing of the film is well balanced, the plot is not rushed, but it is not unnecessarily drawn out. And the film has a surprising twist at the end.

The actors in the film lend not only their voices but also their looks to the characters. Because of the rotoscopic animation, the facial expressions and body language of the actors also play an important role in the portrayal of the characters. The main characters Zsófia Szamosi and Tamás Keresztes authentically convey the complex emotional state, suffering and love of Nóra and Stefan. Among the supporting cast, the performance of Judit Schell stands out.

Openings

The story of The White Plastic Sky is quite original, although the second half of the film builds very slowly and the plot often sits for a long time. It is not only a sci-fi adventure, but also a family drama about a couple fighting for their lives and love, which is basically shocking and interesting, but sometimes it slows down too much, when not much of substance happens. The story also raises questions about the meaning of life, self-sacrifice and hope.

This dystopian world and harrowing story is well portrayed in the film’s visuals, which are stunning and richly detailed. The film combines rotoscopic animation and 3D animation in a unique style to create the image of a Hungary in ruins, and its visuals create a clever contrast between the world below and above the dome. There is also a punchy action sequence that is both exciting and dynamic. The music is by Christopher White, which fits the mood of the film and enhances the emotions.

There is hope even after destruction

The mood of the film is dark and depressing, but not hopeless, and it skilfully conveys the contrast between destruction and hope, as well as the diversity of human emotions. It simultaneously shakes us up and makes us think about the present and the future through a spectacular, heartbreaking, yet very moving, depiction of a dystopian, post-apocalyptic Hungary. If you’re in the market for such an artistic, often extremely slow-building, but nevertheless shocking and interesting sci-fi animated film, don’t miss White Plastic Sky.

-BadSector-