AVM is the most exciting civil initiative in Hungary today because its activity manages to cut across the political and other dividing lines creating alliances across the board. The film is originally inspired by my interest in the work of AVM and an intimate knowledge of its daily life. I have spent the last three years in close contact with the group, studying their “phenomenon” in something that can be compared to anthropological participatory observation method. I grew to believe that AVM’s existence is virtually unprecedented in Hungary and that their story can inspire others across borders.

I am convinced that humanity has to reshape its thinking about human life in order to find a way out of the crises we have generated. However, our civilization tends to think of the social, environmental and economic crises as problems that can be “solved”, obstacles that can be overcome, so that the same lifestyle that led to these crises can be continued. I feel that AVM is a unique experiment at creating a better society, a place we could all imagine ourselves belonging to. Is it possible for the mankind to live in ways that are more just and caring? This exploration can help us understand why so many people live unhappy lives and what a better world could look like.

I believe the story of AVM carries an important message for all of us. As the group struggles against injustice in Hungary, its members discover that life can be much more fulfilling as part of a community, which gradually becomes the most important part of their life that offers them possibilities they had never had before. When you take a step towards other human beings, when you stand up for a more just society, you also take a step towards yourself and discover a life that can be happy and fulfilling.