exotic girlfriend

short (3 mins, VHS, Hungary, 2019)

Exotic Girlfriend’s debut single and theme song premiered Valentine’s day 2019 through Alina Vincze’s VHS camera work. The original VHS technology refers to the visual language of the 1990s that had a significant influence on the childhood of the creators. Some costumes are typical dresses of various cultures emphasizing the dilemmas proposed by the song. Is the Eastern European cultural background special? Is there a way to escape from the role of being an exotic girlfriend? What are the elements that form the identity of women who grew up in Hungary after the system change? How can you preserve this heritage if you live abroad? What happens if you have to face these questions in a relationship?

director: Noémi Varga 
producer: Dora Nedeczky
dop: Alina Vincze 
1st ac & grip: Márton Kisteleki 
gaffer: Máté Balázs 
spark: Mátyás Borsos 
art director: Judit Juhász 
art assistant: Erzsi Bojti 
1st ad: Detti Tóth 
pa: Anna Kertész 
colourist: Tamás Marosán 
animation: Jenny Jokela

About Exotic Girlfriend

Songs of heartbreaks, transatlantic romances and misunderstood text messages from two Eastern European women. Founded by a filmmaker, Noémi Varga, and a curator, Andi Soós, to document the disappointments and joys of navigating lives between London and Budapest. Their musical collaborators are Mindwax’s very own Dora Nedeczky and William B E Smith. In every song, the emphasis is on the words: the power of friendship and love, the challenges of being female highlighted in music and performative elements.