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7.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Légy jó mindhalálig remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like a cold, wet blanket—in a good way—then yeah, watch this. It’s essential if you have any interest in Hungarian cinema, but if you’re looking for a light Friday night watch, look elsewhere. People who hate stories where the good kid gets bullied into the dirt by adults will probably want to turn this off after ten minutes. 🎒
The whole thing takes place in this boarding school that feels less like a place of learning and more like a waiting room for disappointment. Misi is just too pure for this environment. It’s painful. You can practically smell the floor wax and old paper.
I noticed how much screen time they give to the teachers just being, well, miserable. They aren't villains in a comic book way; they’re just small, petty people who decided their only power is making a child feel like a criminal. That one scene where Misi is accused of theft? My stomach turned. The way the camera just sits there on his face while he realizes no one is coming to help him is brutal.
It’s not as polished as something like The Divine Lady, but that’s fine. It feels raw. The pacing hits a wall sometimes, and you’re just stuck in a hallway with these kids, but maybe that’s the point. Boarding school *is* a slow, repetitive drag.
I kept thinking about Rablélek while watching this, mainly because of the feeling of being trapped by systems that don't care about you. Misi is just trying to read his books and survive. The world has other plans.
There’s this weird, specific silence in the school scenes. It’s not quiet, exactly. It’s just the sound of people not saying what they’re actually thinking. It gets under your skin. Don't go in expecting a hero's journey. It’s just a kid trying not to lose his soul before graduation. 🕯️