Hotel Úsvit

The small Slovakian town of Čierna nad Tisou is situated in the most easterly corner of the European Union, right next to the border with Ukraine. At one time it was known as the Golden Gate of Socialism, but this once important transshipment center for Soviet freight trains is now a backwater rife with unemployment. Against the backdrop of the dilapidated Hotel Sunrise, the Communist Party is making efforts to get back into the running. But the locals have problems of their own: Viktor's gambling and alcohol addictions have landed him back in jail, so his wife Veronika has to go to his mother's funeral alone. Peter is overweight and tries to break the monotony by getting into shape. Meanwhile, Jan's wife Gizela is gone – apparently taken to Hungary for a reason that remains unclear. Despite the sad circumstances in which they find themselves, they all try in their own way to keep their spirits up, in the hope of new opportunities. The camera calmly observes them as they go about their lives, offering us a close look at the existences of people doing their best to deal with a new reality. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)