Men with Balls

A tennis court lands in Hungary’s poorest village

Situated at the end of a dead end road, the Hungarian village of Besence has only 126 inhabitants and an unemployment rate of 98 percent. Basic infrastructure such as drinking water and public lighting arrived just fifteen years ago. Determined to transform his struggling community, the energetic Mayor Ignác applies relentlessly for European Union and national funds. His efforts result in two unexpected projects: a horticultural initiative and the construction of a tennis court in the middle of nowhere.
The arrival of the court causes both curiosity and doubt. Kari, the tennis coach, enters the village pushing a trolley filled with rackets and balls, ready to introduce the sport to residents who have far more experience with unemployment than with tennis. At first, enthusiasm spreads quickly. Training sessions offer a welcome distraction from financial worries, mortgages and the daily search for work. The mayor and the coach form an eccentric yet persistent duo, determined to put Besence on the map.
Directed by Kristof Kovacs, Men with Balls observes this microcosm with irreverence and sharp editing. The tennis court becomes the symbolic centre of village life, even rivaling the local bar. As summer progresses, tensions surface around funding, harvests and expectations. The planned Besence Open tournament becomes a test of collective motivation in a town balancing hope, routine and the fragile promise of change.