Control 2005

The film begins with a statement from a real-life manager of the Budapest metro, emphasizing that the story presented is entirely fictional and does not reflect the actual behavior or practices of the Kontrollers within the system.

In this narrative, we follow Bulcsú (Sándor Csányi), a diligent ticket inspector who calls the Hungarian Metro his home, as he spends his nights either patrolling the train platforms or resting amidst the hustle and bustle of the underground. Joined by his eclectic team of inspectors, which includes the seasoned yet eccentric Professor (Zoltán Mucsi), the scruffy Lecsó (Sándor Badár), the unpredictable and narcoleptic Muki (Csaba Pindroch), and the naive newcomer Tibi (Zsolt Nagy), Bulcsú faces relentless disrespect and physical confrontation from the commuters. These individuals continuously seek to evade fines through an array of creative and audacious methods.

Amidst the chaos, Bulcsú is unwittingly drawn into a rivalry with the model employee Gonzó (Balázs Mihályfi), who challenges him to a precarious “rail run” contest. This dangerous competition takes place on the tracks after the final metro of the night has left, with both competitors racing to reach the next station before being overtaken by a midnight maintenance vehicle. Bulcsú narrowly secures victory, managing to save Gonzó in the nick of time.

One day, during a typical inspection, Bulcsú’s attention is captured by a mysterious girl in a bear suit named Zsófi (Eszter Balla), who is the daughter of a veteran metro driver, Béla (Lajos Kovács). Their connection grows, against the backdrop of Bulcsú’s increasingly chaotic work life. Tensions escalate further when his colleague Laci (László Nádasi), driven to the brink, finds himself in a violent confrontation with a passenger, ultimately leading to a tragic and deadly outcome.

In a series of eerie events, Bulcsú encounters a prankster known as Bootsie (Bence Mátyássy), only to witness him being shoved onto the tracks by a shadowy figure clad in similar attire as his own. This unnerving incident – mistaken for yet another suicide – deeply disturbs Bulcsú, spurring nightmares about the cloaked individual that plague his thoughts and distract him from his duties. When questioned about the incident, he opts not to provide details to the firm’s executive, György Cserhalmi, leading to his resignation under pressure and insinuations from Muki that he may be connected to the death.

Things come to a head during an underground costume party where Bulcsú finally confronts the hooded figure, resulting in yet another race on the tracks similar to his previous contest with Gonzó. Once again, Bulcsú emerges victorious, but the identity of the hooded figure remains a mystery as they disappear back into the shadows. In a moment of solace, Bulcsú reunites with Zsófi, who has transformed into a butterfly costume, together stepping into the light above, away from the dark depths of the metro.