Háromezer számozott darab is a provocative and intense film that explores the lives of five young Roma individuals, whose personal stories are presented in a brutally honest way. The film begins with a theater director attempting to stage a play based on the real-life struggles of these young people, but as the narrative unfolds, the project itself turns into a painful confrontation with their own pasts.

The film reflects on the commodification of suffering, as the director creates an explicit representation of poverty and racism for an audience. The characters find themselves caught in a complex struggle with their own identities as their story goes from the stage to real life. The performances they give, both on stage and in real life, become a battle against racist stereotypes and societal prejudices.

When the play is invited to a prestigious German theater festival, the characters are forced to face not just their own traumatic histories but also the expectations placed upon them by the outside world. The play’s authenticity, which sells the hardship of their lives, becomes a mirror in which the audience is forced to examine their own complicity in perpetuating prejudice.

The film, directed by Császi Ádám, brings a sharp critique of the way racial and social narratives are formed and consumed. Its surreal and absurd elements blend fiction with socio-documentary, creating a space where uncomfortable questions about racism, prejudice, and identity can be confronted. The film is a meditation on the power of storytelling and the complexities of discussing race and racism without perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

A follow-up to his acclaimed theater production Cigány magyar and his Berlin International Film Festival debut Viharsarok, Háromezer számozott darab continues Császi’s exploration of marginalized voices. Its surreal and uncomfortable approach to issues of identity, racism, and societal oppression resonates with fans of directors like Ruben Östlund and Alejandro Jodorowsky.

The film was met with critical acclaim and won the “Rebels with a Cause” award at the Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival, cementing Császi’s place as a bold new voice in international cinema.