Set in the politically fraught autumn of 1936, Budapest Noir follows Zsigmond Gordon, a cynical reporter, or as he would say, “a professional snoop,” as he probes the seemingly unimportant murder of a young prostitute found beaten to death and dumped in a courtyard. Gordon follows clues that take him into the city’s dark underbelly—a shadowy world of pornographers, fixers, boxing rings, high class brothels, powerful crime syndicates and secret Communist cells. His investigations lead all the way to the highest echelons of power, where one of Hungary’s most influential business figures plans to make a fortune through his political ties to Germany’s leadership.

Director Éva Gárdos found the perfect leading man in the charismatic Krisztián Kolovratnik, whose trench coat, smart aleck remarks and world-weariness recall vintage Humphrey Bogart. Award-winning cinematographer Elemér Ragalyi (who also shot this year’s World Cinema Now selection 1945) captures the atmospheric look of 1936 Budapest while filming at authentic locations throughout the historic city.