29-year-old slacker Aron (Áron Ferenczik) is coming off a bad break-up – so bad that his girlfriend took all of her stuff out of their apartment and even removed her hair from the bathroom drain. Stunned, Aron spends the rest of the Hungarian comedy For Some Inexplicable Reason staggering around Budapest trying to escape a profound personal confusion. In the opening sequence, Aron feigns dropping dead in a variety of Budapest locations amidst unconcerned passersby. That (along with the hair removed from the drain – what a great gag) sets the mood of this witty and good-hearted comedy.
We meet Aron’s buddies, who are all farther along in their careers, but only marginally more mature. His well-intentioned parents are not helping his mental health. There is the specter of his ex Ezter, hopefully to be replaced by one of the young women who wander into his crosshairs.
Writer-director Gábor Reisz delivers some highly original moments, including Aron being followed by an increasing lineup of Ezters. There’s a priceless kitchen table argument between Aron’s parents shot-from-high. There is Aron’s totally unexpected reaction to a sexual opportunity. And, is you see For Some Inexplicable Reason, DO NOT MISS the closing credits – well worth it!
These inventive fragments are all reminiscent of the 2013 Cinequest gem Oh Boy, which later secured a US theatrical release as A Coffee In Berlin. For Some Inexplicable Reason isn’t quite as unified a work as Oh Boy, but it’s entertaining throughout and the best parts are really clever.
For Some Inexplicable Reason plays again February 27 at Camera 12 and on March 7 at the California Theatre.