Interesting and thought-provoking look at the appeal of hardline law and order in a broken society. Brothers Maté and Joci are believable as youngsters trying to get by in a provincial city with high unemployment and corrupt local officials. We are carried with them as they are drawn into a paramilitary group and ditch their old allegiances.
The relationship between Maté and Anita feels rushed, but the betrayal of Tibi, the athletics trainer, is powerfully done. There are flaws and unanswered questions: What happens to the money Tibi gave Maté for running shoes? Does Maté ever compete in the race that seems his only hope at the outset? We're Acs' motives always honourable? - but these do not detract from the story. The element of racism does not translate well - I was not always able to recognise the ethnicities behind the divisions - and the whole tale is shoehorned into two one-hour episodes but could have been spread more evenly over three. The show avoids easy answers, however, and leaves its questions hanging. How far are we willing to go, how much to tolerate, in the search for peace and social order?
The re-election of Viktor Orban in Hungary, and the spread of right-wing ideologies across Europe, mean the issues raised are as relevant in 2018 as they were when the show was made. Well worth a watch.
