Hot Hungarian Hip-Hop: review of “The District!” December 24, 2007
Posted by dlatman in Graffiti, europe, hungary, music, time, travel, youth.trackback
Graffiti outside Pest bar, photo taken Spring 2006. I love Budapest!
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I just saw “The District!,” an animated movie from Budapest, Hungary with a friend a few nights ago. After the glowing reviews from The NY Times and various film blogs, I was all pumped up to see “the most original animated movie of 2007.” The visuals are amazing, and the soundtrack made us wanna dance in our seats, but my friend and I left the Two Boots Pioneer Theater in confusion. Was this really a political satire, or was something lost in translation?
“The District!” is billed as an Eastern, oh excuse me, Central European version of South Park; a raunchy take on world politics from the perspective of a multi-ethnic group of teenagers in Budapest’s eighth district. With an emerging Romeo and Juliet-type relationship between a Roma (Gypsy) boy and white Hungarian girl opening the film, the plot moves forward at about a million miles an hour as the kids develop a get-rich-quick scheme involving a time machine, a bunch of mammoths, and excavating petroleum from underneath their present-day streets. The film explores international politics as leaders such as Bush, bin Laden, the Pope, Tony Blair and Ariel Sharon then converge in Budapest in attempts to gain control of this newly-discovered petrol source (the film was made in 2004, and not subtitled or distributed in the US until this year, which explains the anachronism).
Yeah, it’s a little hard to follow, and the white subtitles on often-light backgrounds certainly don’t help. But the striking visuals (a mix of photography, 3-d computer animation and cartoon illustrations reminiscent of Richard Linklater’s Waking Life) and Hungarian hip-hop soundtrack are really entertaining and unique. I also like how the animators captured Budapest’s street scenes, and its’ mix of beautiful old architecture and urban decay.
The film is strongest when exploring relations between the district’s “gypsy” and white Hungarian families; the line “gypsies are Europe’s blacks,” rapped by main character Ricsi Lakatos (voice provided by Hungarian rapper L.L. Junior) in an awesome hip-hop musical scene, offered helpful insight for an American viewer like myself. While caricaturized, the white and Roma central characters still had unique personalities that made them likeable. But the token Asian, Arabic and Jewish teenagers fall really flat, even for a two-dimensional film 
. Chen does karate, Abdul is a kaffiyeh-wearing terrorist, and the Jewish nerd gets sound financial advice from his father. Similarly, every woman character was either a prostitute or dressed like one, which was probably an ironic commentary on sexist male perspectives, but was still hard to tell. Maybe if the film had stronger female characters or an emphasis on feminism as a global issue, the caricarizations would be more easily perceived as something other than an excuse to flash copious T&A.
So, my Jewish brethren and sistren, when searching for a movie to watch tomorrow after your dim-sum, you might consider this film. But I’d suggest Persepolis instead.
[...] Original post by dlatman [...]
I am very interested in your posts. . ..
I wish i knew how to email you directly without posting a comment but I dont so I will contact you like this.
Hello. My name is Jaime Wilkins. I am writing to ask you who I would send artist submissions in to for reviews/interviews and what is the best format, electronic or hard copy?
Also, I represent an artist called Capital X who is an activist against the death penalty. Below is his bio and links to his myspace page and contact. I think with everything going on with the UN’s moratorium against the death penalty and New Jersey being the first state in years to ban it, he would be an interesting interview for your paper.
Thank you for your time.
Jaime Wilkins(add.verse)
Capitalx2002@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/capitalxaka305375
Capital-”X”
Capital-”X” is a Brooklyn born Puerto Rican who now resides in the South Ward of Newark, New Jersey when he is not on tour fighting on the front lines in the war for justice. Spending nearly half of his life trapped within web of the criminal justice system Capital-”X” transformed himself into a prisoners rights activist. A strong opponent of capitol punishment Capital-”X” spends much of his time traveling across the US as well as over seas speaking and performing to educate and enlighten the masses on w! hat he considers to be the truth about a corrupt and unjust legal system. Intertwining facts gathered by years of extensive study on criminology, penology, law, personal experience and the experiences of fellow captives with hip hop music “X” intoxicates audiences with what he calls Raptivism.
Growing up on the streets of New York Capital-”X” picked up the art of MCing(Motivating Crowds) from friends who are now historically considered the founding fathers of the art form.
First attempting to escape a life on the streets saturated with drugs and violence using the skills he acquired as many he personally knows have done, he now skillfully uses this craft as a weapon to battle the system he says is nothing more than modern day slavery. Twice signed to minor record labels in the 80’s only to be dropped due to imprisonment “X” finally grew tired of falling victim to the system.
Launching his first attack in 1996 Capital-”X” made headlines fighting for a 14 year old Taurean White who was sentenced to 20 years in a North Carolina prison for first degree rape. The case of Taurean White made national headlines due the fact he was convicted with literally no physical evidence.
Facing 21 years in prison himself at the time “X” was praised for his unselfish efforts to raise monies for the Taurean White legal fund by recording and releasing a single entitled “Ashes to Ashes” a tribute to Taurean White which sold over 10,000 copies. Taurean White was eventually granted a new trial where he was acquitted and released from prison after serving 4 years in an adult prison; an injustice within it self.
Fighting for his own freedom “X” was released from prison for what he strongly states was his final time in 2001 after serving five years for assaulting two police officers. He has since been working on his solo debut entitled “305375″ (his last prison number) and keeping himself extremely busy advocating for prisoners across the country and beyond. In the past three years he has been picking up momentum touring across the US with Vans Warped Tour and embarking on five European tours performing over 200 shows in 5 countries. He recently opened for Slum Village in Jesolo, Italy in January 2007 for a crowd of over 3500. In Italy he has received national news coverage and has been covered by local and national news papers speaking and performing in middle schools, high schools and in maximum security prisons there. In
Croatia he was featured on MTV Adria.! His own Internet show “From The Frontlines” is now being featured on ONLOQ.com.
Called the Voice of the Voiceless, Capital-”X” claims to be the spokesman for over 2.5 million captives held in US prisons.
Projects include: Single for death row prisoner Anthony Haynes titled “999330″. Single written and released for Patrick (Dead Man Laughing) Knight one week before he was executed in Huntsville, Texas titled “Dead Man Laughing”. Music for FBC Televisions documentary “The Green Mile” (Letters from Death Row). Music and voice overs for documentary on executed prisoner Dominique Green titled “Thou Shalt Not Kill” which ! included a single using Dominiques’ lyrics titled “My World”. Single “Life” Featuring Akir Viper/Koch Records scheduled for summer of 08 release. Capital-”X” is affiliated with many organizations such as: Amnesty International, NJNDP, TCADP, 4Wardever and the Mikey Powell Campaign just to name a few.
In his words “X” states “I am not nor do I seek to be the greatest rapper of all time. I only seek to reveal the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Love my music or hate it, the truth I speak can not be denied. Keep your Source awards and keep your fucking Grammies, I want justice and I will fight for it to and from beyond the grave”. 2007 Capital-”X” is a 100% independent recording artist. His album is due to be release in late 2008.
Raised in the streets and in prison, Capital-”X” turned his life around through his music he calls Reality Hip Hop, or Raptivism. A strong supporter for death row inmates, and activist for prison rights, Capital-”X” brings awareness to people and hope to prisoners through his music, and lyrics.(Associated Content)