In her latest documentary Democracy Noir (2024), Oscar-nominated director Connie Field turns her lens on various resistance movements against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ruling Fidesz party.Tune into Inside the Arthouse to hear Field discuss her latest project with co-hosts Greg Laemmle and Raphael Sbarge ahead of its release in NYC on September 5th and Los Angeles on September 19th.
Field—who rose to prominence following the release of her acclaimed 1980 documentary, The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter—returns to guide viewers from Orbán's initial rise to power in 2010 to the grassroots protests of 2023, exploring how autocrats secure power within democratic systems while demonstrating in real time the crucial role of resistance.In her efforts to ground this story in the here and now, Field skillfully intertwines the stories of three Hungarian women activists: Tímea Szabó, a prominent opposition leader; Nikoletta Antal, a passionate young protest organizer and nurse; and Babett Oroszi, an award-winning journalist who’s been silenced by Orbán’s totalitarian control over the media. While the documentary never shows these women interacting, it transitions seamlessly from one to the next, highlighting the overlapping nature of their struggles.Ultimately, the film manages to avoid reducing Orbán’s regime to a simple good vs. evil narrative, offering a sharp critique of Orbán and his party while refraining from demonizing his supporters en masse. This nuanced approach is reflected in the personal stories of the activists, whose political lives are more complicated than one might expect. Antal, for instance, is fiercely anti-Orbán, yet her mother sees Orbán's policies as a source of security. Similarly, Oroszi, who initially voted for Orbán in 2010, interviews rural Fidesz supporters, trying to understand their motivations while also confronting homophobic attacks on herself and her wife. These personal narratives enrich the film, offering poignant depictions of the political divisions that can run through families—not just in Hungary, but all the world over.Through these diverse perspectives, Democracy Noir paints a grim yet resonant picture of how Orbán’s government undermines Hungary's democratic institutions. Rather than focusing on overt acts of violence or authoritarian crackdown, the film shows how the government gradually erodes democratic structures: rewriting the constitution, stacking the Constitutional Court with loyalists, and consolidating control over the media—subtle, systemic manipulations that often go unnoticed by Orbán's most devout supporters. For many (if not most) Hungarians, life goes on as usual.This film is not a how-to manual for resisting autocracy, particularly in the context of the U.S. Nevertheless, Democracy Noir offers an essential, firsthand look at how democracy can backfire, making it a crucial watch for anyone invested in the future of democratic societies.“This documentary immerses you in a profoundly moving struggle against the tide of authoritarianism led by a trio of extraordinary women.” – Chris Jones, Overly Honest Reviews
Field—who rose to prominence following the release of her acclaimed 1980 documentary, The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter—returns to guide viewers from Orbán's initial rise to power in 2010 to the grassroots protests of 2023, exploring how autocrats secure power within democratic systems while demonstrating in real time the crucial role of resistance.In her efforts to ground this story in the here and now, Field skillfully intertwines the stories of three Hungarian women activists: Tímea Szabó, a prominent opposition leader; Nikoletta Antal, a passionate young protest organizer and nurse; and Babett Oroszi, an award-winning journalist who’s been silenced by Orbán’s totalitarian control over the media. While the documentary never shows these women interacting, it transitions seamlessly from one to the next, highlighting the overlapping nature of their struggles.Ultimately, the film manages to avoid reducing Orbán’s regime to a simple good vs. evil narrative, offering a sharp critique of Orbán and his party while refraining from demonizing his supporters en masse. This nuanced approach is reflected in the personal stories of the activists, whose political lives are more complicated than one might expect. Antal, for instance, is fiercely anti-Orbán, yet her mother sees Orbán's policies as a source of security. Similarly, Oroszi, who initially voted for Orbán in 2010, interviews rural Fidesz supporters, trying to understand their motivations while also confronting homophobic attacks on herself and her wife. These personal narratives enrich the film, offering poignant depictions of the political divisions that can run through families—not just in Hungary, but all the world over.Through these diverse perspectives, Democracy Noir paints a grim yet resonant picture of how Orbán’s government undermines Hungary's democratic institutions. Rather than focusing on overt acts of violence or authoritarian crackdown, the film shows how the government gradually erodes democratic structures: rewriting the constitution, stacking the Constitutional Court with loyalists, and consolidating control over the media—subtle, systemic manipulations that often go unnoticed by Orbán's most devout supporters. For many (if not most) Hungarians, life goes on as usual.This film is not a how-to manual for resisting autocracy, particularly in the context of the U.S. Nevertheless, Democracy Noir offers an essential, firsthand look at how democracy can backfire, making it a crucial watch for anyone invested in the future of democratic societies.“This documentary immerses you in a profoundly moving struggle against the tide of authoritarianism led by a trio of extraordinary women.” – Chris Jones, Overly Honest Reviews