A rich and complex coming-of-age story, Tenderness focuses on a passionate and often cruel ménage à trois shaped by a country in the throes of political upheaval and social transformation. Cited as one of the finest ever Slovak feature debuts, the film marked the arrival of Šulik as one of international cinema's most vital talents.
Slovak filmmaker Martin Šulík’s striking debut feature focuses on a strange triangular relationship shaped by the unspoken undercurrents of political upheaval and social transformation that surround it.
Šimon, a solitary young student, is drawn into a liaison with an older couple, Mária and Viktor, whose partnership veers between passion and cruelty. Soon, caught up in their unsettling, claustrophobic and at times violent relationship, Šimon slowly learns the dark secrets of their past and comes to recognise the corrupt systems that shaped all of their lives.
Our region-free, world-premiere Blu-ray is presented from a new 2K restoration of the film and includes Šulík’s acclaimed 1989 short film Hurá. Also included is ' On Tenderness', a new documentary on the film and its legacy, plus a booklet featuring new writing on the film by film historian and author Peter Hames.
• Presented from the new 2K restoration of the film from original materials supervised by the Slovak Film Institute and approved by the director.
• ‘On Tenderness’ (2020) - a new documentary on the film and its legacy.
• Hurá (1989) - Martin Šulík’s acclaimed short film.
• 20-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Peter Hames.
• 1.0 Mono LPCM audio (48k/24-bit)
• World premiere on Blu-ray
• Region free Blu-ray (A/B/C)
Directed by Martin Šulík
Screenplay - Martin Šulík and Ondrej Šulaj
Cinematography - Martin Štrba
Music - Vladimír Godár
Art Direction - František Lipták
Editor - Dušan Milko
Production - Slovenská fi lmová tvorba Bratislava-Koliba
(Tibor Vichta)
Main Cast
Maria Pakulnis - Mária
György Cserhalmi - Viktor
Gejza Benkő - Šimon
Iva Bittová - Marta
“A work of considerable formal and visual distinction. Sulik’s precise, sympathetic, and analytical direction heralded the arrival of a major new talent.”
Peter Hames, The Best of Slovak Film 1921-1991
“Inspired by Tarkovsky’s films and Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris.” Viera Langerová
“A strong and rewarding debut, which combines dry comedy with Bergmanesque characterisation... thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable.” Central Europe Review
"The most promising debut by a Slovak director since those of Juraj Jakubisko, Dušan Hanák, and Elo Havetta in the late 1960s" Martin Ciel, Kulturný život 25
"A strong and rewarding debut, which combines dry comedy with Bergmanesque characterisation... thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable." Central Europe Review