1913, Budapest, the enigmatic Írisz Leiter (Juli Jakab) arrives in the Hungarian capital to seek employment at her deceased parents’ department store. Treated with suspicion she is rebuffed by new owner Oszkár Brill (Vlad Ivanov). But Írisz return precipitates the unearthing of family secrets and a violent, rogue brother, who is wanted for the murder of a Hungarian count.

More expansive and less claustrophobic than his Oscar winning film Son of Saul, Nemes once again keeps his camera close to the subjective experience of his protagonist. As if hypnotised by her circumstance, Írisz navigates her way through a world thick with deceit and threat, compelled to discover the truth at all costs. Nemes has once again created unnerving and compelling cinema.

Director: László Nemes. Hungary, 2018. 142 minutes 15A