Picture to download Prizes: 2003 - Biarritz FIPA Special Prize 2003 - Houston Worldfest Silver Remi Award 2003 - San Francisco Golden Gate Special Mention

Taboo (Tabu) (2003, documentary, video, colour, 75 min.) Director: Eszter Nordin Director of photography: Zsolt Marcell Tóth Editor: Anna Kornis Music: Dániel Gryllus Sound: Róbert Juhász Producer: Eszter Nordin Production company: Média Mánia The subject of this 75-minutes documentary, as the title suggests, is still taboo: the sexuality of the mentally disabled. There are many misconceptions and prejudices surrounding this sensitive issue and the aim of this film is to openly present the situation, through the lives of those who are touched by or those who are, themselves disabled. The documentary, shot in the spring and early summer of 2002 in Hungary, features the inmates of seven different institutions caring for the mentally handicapped, as well as their parents, nurses, psychiatrists, and heads of the institutions. Many people today would hold the view, that sexuality and experiencing emotion require some kind of “normal” mental ability. Talking to several couples in our film, this concept is proven not to be the case. Sexuality manifests itself differently, from one individual to another, depending on their level of disability and psychosexual development. How they can express their sexuality will depend a great deal on the environment in which they are brought up and live today. The institutions we chose represent different approaches to caring for the mentally disabled and to dealing with their sexuality. There are many unusual couples and situations in our documentary, and it was surprising even for the filmmakers how frankly and openly they spoke about their lives. Festivals: 2005 - Gyergyószentmiklós MOOOVie 2004 - Milan Sguardi Altrove Film Festival 2004 - Rome TekFestival 2003 - Biarritz FIPA (in competition) 2003 - Houston Worldfest (in competition) 2003 - Istanbul Rendez-Vous 2003 - Kolobrzeg YOU and ME 2003 - Neubrandenburg-Szczecin dokumentART 2003 - San Francisco Golden Gate (in competition)