Hungarian filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó directs Amy Adams in the Berlinale competition film At the Sea, released in 2024, featuring his most accessible storytelling yet. Despite Mundruczó’s ongoing blacklist in Hungary, the film explores personal struggles and family dynamics against the backdrop of Cape Cod, Mass., focusing on Adams’ character’s journey toward healing.
Director Faces Blacklisting Amid Political Controversies
Kornél Mundruczó, known for his outspoken political views, reveals he has been blacklisted in Hungary for several years due to his criticism of the country’s right-wing government. Since his 2017 film Jupiter’s Moon, Mundruczó has struggled to secure financing for his projects at home.
“I’ve been blacklisted in Hungary for years,”
he admits.
“Ever since ‘Evolution’, I’ve received very little support. The last film that got real financing was ‘Jupiter’s Moon’ back in 2017. Since then, I’ve applied a couple of times but I was refused, so I’m not applying anymore.”
Mundruczó’s blacklisting comes after his active support of protests in 2020 against government interference at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest.
“I’m lucky I’m able to work, but I’m Hungarian and I’d definitely like to make Hungarian movies again. I desperately miss it,”
he says, reflecting on his desire to continue creating art in his native language, despite current challenges.
Production and Setting: A Story Rooted in American Shores
Though co-produced by Hungary’s Proton Cinema, At the Sea is an international collaboration involving Ryder Picture Company, AR Content, and Hammerstone Studios. The narrative is set in the coastal town of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where Adams’ character, Laura, returns after completing a rehab stay.
Laura’s return to her family is fraught with tension following her drunk-driving accident. Her struggle intensifies as she attempts to uphold the legacy of her late father’s dance company while seeking personal reconciliation.
A Personal and Optimistic Tale of Renewal
Mundruczó describes At the Sea as a story about rebirth and reconnecting after trauma. Drawing from his own experiences, he aims to illustrate the possibility of hope amid serious struggles.
“For me, it’s a ‘life after death’ kind of movie,”
he explains.
“It came from my personal experience as well. When you’re in real trouble, you can lose your connection with those closest to you. Still, there’s a way out, and I wanted to offer it to Laura. It’s not utopian — it’s optimistic.”
Amy Adams’ Intuitive Connection with the Role
Amy Adams was the sole actor initially given access to Kata Wéber’s script, which Adams instantly connected with on a deep level. Mundruczó praises her ability to portray Laura’s vulnerability following rehab.
“We didn’t give it to anyone else. She said: ‘It feels so close to me.’ Her unbelievable talent lies in her understanding of how fragile a woman like Laura is after rehab. She was game to focus on a very short period of time — only this one weekend — and expand it into a much bigger inner journey.”
“Her performance is very moving — and brave in terms of how simple, raw, and natural she’s in the movie.”
Balancing Legacy and Personal Growth
Laura’s journey involves navigating the complicated emotions tied to her father’s legacy. She faces the challenge of honoring her past without being overwhelmed by it.
“It’s a fine balance, because you can’t violently cut yourself off from your past. She finds a way to respect it, but also opens a new chapter. She’s ready to say: ‘Maybe it’s not just about me anymore.’ I learned that too. Your ego is less important than those close to you.”
Family Dynamics and Expression Through Dance
The relationship between Laura and her teenage daughter Josie, played by Chloe East, is fraught with resentment and unspoken tension. Instead of words, Josie communicates through intense and expressive dance movements.
“They’re at a point when words don’t matter anymore. They have to go bigger. I work in theater and I’ve created some dance sequences in my career, but I’ve never been a dancer. Amy is a dancer,”
Mundruczó remarks.
“She started out as one and transitioned into acting, and she really liked that connection. Laura’s father was a dancer, and she tried it, but didn’t continue. She was oppressed by his big shadow. Now, Josie dances this crazy explosion in front of her. It’s an insult, but it awakens her soul again.”
Visual Storytelling Beyond Spoken Language
Mundruczó emphasizes cinema’s unique power to convey complex emotions without relying solely on dialogue, blending visuals and movement to achieve expression.
“Theater is words — cinema is visual and much more sensitive. Cinema is hair and skin, trees, light, and movement. Something else is happening between the lines; it’s never a straightforward emotion.”
An Ensemble Cast Embracing Depth and Humor
The film’s cast includes Murray Bartlett as Laura’s husband, alongside Jenny Slate, Dan Levy, and Brett Goldstein. Bartlett’s recent acclaimed TV role is noted for its emotional depth, which the director values highly.
“He’s a star. His episode in ‘The Last of Us’ [‘Long, Long Time’] was one of the most beautiful moments in TV,”
Mundruczó notes.
The film also incorporates a bittersweet tone, blending humor with somber themes inspired by classic literature.
“In my career, I haven’t been afraid of going into dark places, but this story is very Chekhovian. It’s very loosely inspired by ‘The Cherry Orchard’ and in his work, humor or lightness is as important as darkness,”
he comments.
Addiction and Family Struggles at the Forefront
Although At the Sea centers on themes of broken connections and midlife crises, Mundruczó conveys the complexities of addiction and co-dependency within the family context.
“When we were researching addiction, or drawing from my own experience with it, it became clear: that’s the trap and the test. Laura tries to reconnect with her family, but they want ‘the old, fun Laura.’ The drunk Laura, not the troubled woman they have in the house. I showed the film to quite a few formal addicts in my circle, and everyone said: ‘The first days are just like that.’”
Continuing the Director’s Focus on Complex Female Characters
Following Pieces of a Woman, which earned Vanessa Kirby an Oscar nomination, Mundruczó continues to spotlight women grappling with profound personal challenges through his work.
“I believe in women’s strength and I feel the roles [out there] don’t necessarily reflect their complexity,”
he states.
“Martha in ‘Pieces of a Woman’ and Laura in ‘At the Sea,’ they are real heroes. My heroes.”
