Tiszta szívvel (2016) Online

'Kills on Wheels' (or 'Tiszta szívvel' if you're my wife - translating along the lines of something more like 'Pure Heart').

The English title is a bit simplistic and attempts to dumb down the film to make it more attractive for popcorn fodder. And, yes, while this is a film that involves people in wheelchairs that may or may not take the lives of some of Hungary's, and Serbia's, less law- abiding citizens, there is a bit more going on here than just that.

Rupaszov is a disabled former fireman, recently freed from prison for shooting a police officer when losing his way after an accident that left him paralysed from the waist down. Randomly, he befriends young Zolika and Barba, two disabled youths living in a care home. Taking them to a club to get drunk, he uses them as his assistants in his deeds for Serbian drug baron, Rados, under the belief that nobody would suspect a cripple.

Soon, Rupaszov's talent for picking-off Rados' enemies gains him a nice income and the Serbian offers him big money to take out his key rivals. But, on learning that his seated hit-man has been using accomplices, Rados soon sets about making sure all three are 'taken care of.'

On the face of it, the premise is that of a low-level gangster movie, with the disabled element adding something of a twist. But with writer-director Atilla Till having volunteered in care homes; and with some of the leads and most of the extras disabled themselves, this is more a film about the lives of two young kids with disability trying to find their place in the world. Much like we all do at their age.

Zolika struggles to accept his estranged father's payment for his potentially life-saving operation, believing his disability is the cause of his parent's divorce. This leads to some quite personal scenes of novice actor Zoltan Fenyvesi. Rupaszov's physiotherapy is always accompanied by various disabled extras demonstrating rehabilitation methods in the background. But these physical challenges are played alongside more comical ones: Barba struggling to input the correct number at a vending machine; and Rupaszov unable to even flinch at being stabbed in the leg.

The true story of the film is Zolika and Barba's regular attendance at conventions in attempts to get the comic book they are working on published, as Zolika tries to come to terms with his situation. The English title looks at the more face-value aspects of the film, whereas the original Hungarian title fits much better thematically.

Last year, 'Son of Saul' was nominated and went on to win, the Oscar for best foreign language film. 'Tiszta szívvel' is the Hungarian entry this time around, and probably won't reach the same heights, but is a strong offering tackling difficult subject matter.

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Funny, smart, emotional & well acted this is one of the most refreshing surprises I watched over the past few years.

I hope Hollywood do NOT remake it.

'Kills on Wheels' has a title that is indeed simplistic, and doesn't really do justice to a film that one would think looking at the title that it was a generic gangster/hit-man film but is actually much more than that and is most notable for how its treatment and depictions of disabilities.

The film may be a touch contrived in places, but that aside it turned out to be one of my favourites of the year (it's counted as a 2016 film but was released in this country a few weeks ago). 'Kills on Wheels' balances comedy, drama and action incredibly well, in a pretty much spot on way that a lot of films with this balance would only dream of doing so well. 'Kills on Wheels' is not to be mistaken for another gangster/hit-man film and a generic one, it is the rare sort of film these days that is tough and dark on the outside but is very warm and heartfelt when it comes to the substance.

Lets talk about 'Kills on Wheels' different elements. There are many times where it's very darkly funny with a refreshing edgy wit, while the action is uncompromisingly brutal, tense and exciting with some inventive choreography. Most surprising were the dramatic elements, there is some sentimentality here with the money for operation sub-plot but instead of being mawkish or heavy-handed this was done in a way that was genuinely moving and heartfelt, also found it very easy to relate to.

Most striking about 'Kills on Wheels' is how it handles disability and its attitude towards it. As a disabled person myself (epilepsy and having had an operation for scoliosis, also have Aspergers Syndrome though my problems are nothing compared to the disabilities of the characters here), 'Kills on Wheels' really resonated with me and its treatment of disabilities was done with inspirational honesty. Also really admired the film's guts to address all the preconceptions and generalisations of disabilities and challenge them, something that is really truthfully done, the disabilities depicted here (including paralysis and cerebral palsy, both awful to live with and have real admiration for anybody going through it and doing their best to overcome them) are deserving to be addressed and made aware of far more than it is.

It ('Kills on Wheels') is a very well made film too. Especially in the ingeniously shot and edited action sequences and its deft handling of its mix of cinematic styles. The direction is tight and controlled, it's tautly paced and the script is beautifully balanced and smartly written.

Zoltan Fenyvesi, Szabolcs Thuroczy and Adam Fekete all give brave and inspirational performances and make their struggles powerfully real. Dusan Vitanovic similarly plays adeptly and provokes chills.

Overall, wonderful and has so much more to it than one would think reading the title. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Movie with a dark twist but very heart warming and soul touching.

I loved this movie because it was fresh, funny and the actors were amazing. I expected the usual nihilism of a Hungarian movie and I got great amusement. I also found the acting very credible. There's a little twist at the end, and hints all along that there would be one, but I guess the story would work without it anyway. And that's because the emotions and tensions shown are real, no hypocrisy. Sometimes social media and these positivity sites and articles try to make us believe that it's all right to live in a wheelchair. Well, in fact, life in a wheelchair just sucks. And that's the truth. But you can go ahead, struggle, make some progress, try to handle it the best possible way, but hey folks, let's just not be rosy here. Humour, though. It helps. It always does.

One more thing: there is a small scene where Zolika is out in his wheelchair on a sunny and tranquil day on a touristy square of Budapest and an elderly lady tries to give him small change and he does not accept it. That scene I found the most heart breaking, even though it is not very important from the story point of view. But it is so typical, how good hearted people are mismanaging the encounters with disabled people, due to lack of integration and education.

The Hungarian title means "With Full Heart" and that is how I recommend this movie.

Killing dogs and helpless animals for the sake of a movie is inexcusable in my book.

Also there is a LOT of cigarette smoking. Pushing a movie with disabled people with a lot of smoking, it just rolls wrong.

I'm sick of how foreign movies viciously kill animals to save money, and then they get accolades for it.

In order to make sure I have enough words I'd like to point out to U who are looking for a hidden gem in independent movies, 'Prometheus Trap" and 'Queen to Play'