Wall Driller (1986)
A darkly comic Hungarian portrait of one man's absurd bid for freedom in a suffocating socialist housing block.
Wall Driller - Movie Information
- Original Title: Falfúró
- Release Year: 1986
- Directed by: György Szomjas
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Runtime: 1h 38m
- Original Language: Hungarian
- Spoken Languages: Hungarian
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 13, 1986 (Hungary)
- Alternative Titles: O fura-paredes (PT)
- Production Companies: Mafilm, Hunnia Filmstúdió
- Production Countries: Hungary
Wall Driller - Plot
The sad tale of a proletarian malcontent ensconced in a monstrously depressing housing project who—even less effectually than the heroes of Bald-Dog Rock—attempts to change his life. Purchasing a power drill and slinging it across his shoulder like the anti-hero of a spaghetti western, he turns entrepreneur, boring holes in his neighbors' walls so that they can hang mirrors or pictures.
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Wall Driller - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- György Szomjas
Main Cast
- János Bán
- Renáta Szatler
- Ági Szirtes
- Péter Andorai
- Dénes Ujlaki
- János Derzsi
- György Dörner
- Mariann Erdős
- Sándor Gáspár
- Károly Nemcsák
Writers
- Ibolya Fekete
- Ferenc Grunwalsky
Wall Driller - FAQs
What is Wall Driller about?
Wall Driller follows Géza, a deeply dissatisfied man trapped in a grim Hungarian housing project who tries to turn his life around with an unlikely scheme. Armed with a power drill worn like a gunslinger's weapon, he goes door to door boring holes in neighbors' walls so they can hang pictures and mirrors.
Who directed Wall Driller?
Wall Driller was directed by György Szomjas, one of Hungary's most distinctive filmmakers. Known for his gritty, socially observant style, Szomjas brings a darkly comic yet empathetic eye to the story of a proletarian anti-hero navigating the bleakness of socialist-era suburban life.
When was Wall Driller released?
Wall Driller was released on February 13, 1986, in Hungary. The film is a product of the late socialist era in Hungarian cinema, a period rich with socially critical comedies and dramas that examined everyday life under the constraints of the communist system.
Why does Géza carry a drill like a weapon?
The power drill is Wall Driller's central visual joke and its sharpest metaphor. Géza slings it over his shoulder like a spaghetti western gunslinger, transforming a mundane tool into a symbol of rebellion and self-reinvention. It's his way of carving out a tiny, absurd sense of agency in an otherwise suffocating world.
Who are the main actors in Wall Driller?
The film stars János Bán as Géza, the restless protagonist, alongside Renáta Szatler as Éva and Ági Szirtes as Géza's wife. The supporting cast includes Péter Andorai as the janitor, Dénes Ujlaki as Gyula, János Derzsi, György Dörner, Mariann Erdős, Sándor Gáspár, and Károly Nemcsák.
What genre is Wall Driller?
Wall Driller blends drama and comedy in the tradition of Hungarian social satire. It's a darkly humorous portrait of working-class frustration, using deadpan absurdism to explore themes of alienation, ambition, and the small rebellions people attempt when trapped in monotonous, oppressive circumstances.
What are similar movies to Wall Driller?
If Wall Driller appeals to you, you might enjoy Never Gonna Snow Again (2021), a similarly deadpan Eastern European social comedy, or The Middle Man (2021) for its absurdist working-class humor. Adventures in Babysitting (1987) and Nightbitch (2024) also share that spirit of an ordinary person pushed into unexpected reinvention.
How long is Wall Driller?
Wall Driller runs for 98 minutes, or just under an hour and forty minutes. It's a compact, well-paced film that never overstays its welcome, keeping its dry comic tone and social observations tight throughout Géza's quietly desperate entrepreneurial adventure.
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