In his first feature film, "Age of Illusion", made more than half a century ago, young István Szabó told the story of a young man who was only starting to build his career and life. In his latest film, "Final Report", the 80-year-old director tells us about a retirement-aged man whose professional career ends, but whose life is not yet finished. These two films span the author’s own amazing success story in the film history of the world.

Professor Stephanus (Klaus Maria Brandauer) is a renowned cardiologist. One day, he is sent off to retirement, as the cost-efficient medical system no longer needs his services and knowledge. Stephanus, however, is from a generation that does not know how to be without work. When he hears that the position of a family physician is vacant in his home village, he does not hesitate. At first, everything is idyllic, but that changes over time: new values are reaching rural places and the doctor with his beliefs suddenly becomes an obstruction in implementing questionable changes.

István Szabó has no need to flirt with the modern film language. This is a simple story with which the author sharply touches upon the sociopolitical sore points in the society, particularly the existential problems of the older generation. An attentive viewer will see that the simplicity and Szabó’s film language contain everything for which we love and respect him.

Mihkel Möölman