Iska’s Journey
This story follows the bleak and dreary life of Iska (Maria Varga), a twelve-year old girl whose days are occupied by scavenging for spare metal in exchange for a pittance. The money she earns from this common occupation among her peers, goes to the alcohol her poverty stricken parents abuse on a regular basis to fuel their drunken parties.
Her sickly sister, Rózsika, played by the actress’ real-life sister, wishes to help but stays at home and watches impotently when Iska is beaten by their mother for failing to bring home any money.
This existence is a pitiful one, with little room for hope or upward social mobility. When she isn’t scavenging, or coming home to a beating, she wanders her town to find warm places to sleep, or begging off the scraps that the miners do not eat from their canteen.
The film provides an almost hopeful turn when Iska and her gaunt sister are taken in to an institution for street children. This brief reprieve gives the other orphans a chance at a normal life as they wait for new parents, hence new homes.
The viewer cannot help but hope that Iska and Rózsika will find new homes, but one begins the film sensing that no happy ending awaits. In the interludes between sobering twists of plot, Iska is granted a day of what it is to be a child: to run, play, dream of tomorrow, and even bask in the attention of another little boy who is obviously smitten with her.
Her resolve to stand up for a better life and to explore with a child’s intrepid sense of adventure shines best after that day well spent with her boy-friend, leading them to plan for an escapist voyage for the seaside by train.
With eyes betraying a wisdom beyond her years, Iska is stronger than most: she sees an opportunity move on…and takes it. Before she can, she revisits her frail sister, left abandoned at the orphanage. As they say goodbye, I sense no self-pity from either of the characters. This scene is most touching because the viewer senses that Iska is ill-fated to never see the destination she believes she will go to.
I left the theatre feeling a little sad and contemplative. The film however was well made and I ranked it as excellent on the viewer’s voter card.
When I returned home, I read up on the film to find out that the Varga sisters were discovered living lives not dissimilar to the characters they portray in this film. This adds another layer to the bitter fate that await women and children living in penury.
(More reviews forthcoming)
Tags: Film Festival Reviews
