SoftInloveRox
Horrible, fascist and poorly acted
Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
Allison Davies
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
MEG-40
A really good film but one of the saddest films I've seen in a long time. Although the film was was released in 2006 I only saw it on Australian TV in August 2008. It was shown very late at night with a warning beforehand of child abuse which nearly put me off watching it. If this is not a true life story, I would guess that it must be based on one as it is so very credible. The choice of athletes and actors was good and the role of the coach who trained the young gymnasts was played menacingly well. What a horrible character and unfortunately there may be more than one of those in the real world. The parents were disgusting - I'd run away from home if they were mine. After all his misadventures, I hope that Miklós enjoyed his time with Cirque De Soleil in Las Vegas because by then, in my opinion, after all the hardships he endured he deserved to be treated as a very unique person.
agirvin
I loved this movie and it was the best one I saw at the Toronto International Film festival. I appreciate the effort and detail at capturing the child abuse and then conveying it to the audience. Especially the scene where young Dongo goes home to visit his parents at Christmas time and the parents ask him how the marks got on his body. After failing them to believe that he didn't do anything wrong and was hit for no reason, he makes up a story about throwing a knife and then they believe him. I just couldn't get over the closeness I felt with the main character. This movie is great for audiences of all ages especially for anyone who needs that nudge to believe that they are alright just the way they are.
horvath-zsu
The white palm is a catching movie about an athlete trying to face his talent, the environment and the faults he commits. You do not have to be a sport- lover to like this movie, it is about more: about life. The only way to face your faults is to jump for the next challenge and try it again. The main figure is a Hungarian sporter, who from his childhood trains to become an athlete. We can see the way how he formed to the personality he is: the cruel trainings from childhood, the family-background, and the whole environment, a socialistic world. The story goes in different time-zones: side by side we can follow the child Dongó and his challenges, as well as the young man Dongó in Canada, training the new generation and than trying again his luck. The beginning of the movie is a bit slow, but it gets faster and it just catches you already in the middle of the movie and does not let you relax until the end. This is also interesting, as is based on a true story, the athlete plays himself in the movie. I really liked it, so I suggest you to watch it. :)
Dezso Papp
What I quite liked in the movie was the way the early 1980's scenes and feeling was depicted. It gives a superb re-view of the late communist way of thinking. On values and performance in a sporty way. One of the best scenes for me is the one when the grown up Dongo (the main character) gives a strike to a young Canadian athlete he is instructing. The Canadian parents reaction makes a strong counter point with the really socialist, inhuman reactions of the parents - his parents included - back in his childhood. Counter points are also intensified by the cool editing and the Black and whitish (young Dongo time) and todays scenes. The only thing I would have left out or would alter is the visiting Russian circus story of the teenage Dongo. It feels a little cliché to me!Go and see for yourself though! A cool movie for Central Europe and sports addicts.
