Logline: A unique portrait of Márta Bolba, a passionate community organizer priest.

Short Synopsis
Marta Bolba is the Lutheran pastor at the Mandák House of Budapest’s 8th district which is a more and more marginalised suburb in a more and more intolerant illiberal democracy.
Márta is both a civil activist and a lutheran pastor, a follower of Martin Luther King’s teachings and the civil rights movement.
In her congregation, she tries to unite the faithful of the district’s affluent population with their poor neighbors. Her church is the isle of peace in her district even as she advocates tirelessly with institutions and offices for the poor and disadvantaged. A space that embraces and links up people who dare to step up and step out of their comfort zone can restore hope.
Márta’s aim is to encourage similar organizations through her brave example, to pass on the belief in the Freedom of religion and in succeeding together with a joint effort.

Long Synopsis
Our film having the working title ‘Madam of the Mandák House’ (which finally got the title ’The Pastor at Mandák House’) is about the community organizing work of Márta Bolba, 8th district Lutheran pastor. Last year, we tried to follow her work and be present at the typical and important events of her life with our camera. The preparations started in October 2017 and we shot the film until October 2018 (with the post-production already going on).
We joined at a fortunate moment, when the inauguration of the new (and old) presbyters was happening. In the 6-year-old service of the pastor, this was a joyful moment, the strengthening of her community starting from zero, the meeting of different generations. The inauguration took place in the church of the Mandák House congregation. The pastor is living in this house with her family, and the house also gives place to elder Lutheran residents, to young students, the congregation’s diakonia or charity work (we also filmed the Christmas fest organized by the diakonia), and there are also some civil organizations residing here – for which the pastor makes it possible to use the house’s community spaces. The congregation’s other church is located in the richer Palotanegyed, completely different from the poor environment of Mandák House. The building was inaugurated after 3 years of renovation, in the spring of 2018. Péter Gáncs, head of the historic church or bishop of the Lutheran church is preaching from the church pulpit. Márta Bolba serves with other Lutheran pastors here and following the preactice at Mandák Hose, the congregation’s new spaces give home to other community organizations as well. The two communities don’t necessarily ’mix’ but their goal is the same: to have a community life that is inclusive and active.
Secular and religious environment are not separated in the pastor’s world, those who are not necessarily religious also belong to her community (local residents, people interested or turning to her because of their decrepitude). This is due to her taking stand in social politics issues whenever possible. The existential problems of the poor is one of the main issues she finds important, she tries to do something for the residence possibilities of the district’s residents in person (in the street, in public offices). As she puts it, this is a central topic of the international Lutheran church. To understand the possibilities of the secular environment, to speak up for Christian values and to hold the basic values (all people are created equal, solidarity, acceptance, love etc.) that can play a central role in a religious person’s life.
The pastor is also re-interpreting the role of Mandák House community dinners by not only making it available for her congregation. Anybody can cook and eat at the Lord’s Table – where everyone is equal. Here you can make contacts and speak with poor people or anyone who is interested, who feel lost in the world and are longing for positive affirmations and acceptance.
The core members of the congregation and Márta’s husband is supporting her work. The traditional family roles are based on complete equality, sharing the housework and the raising of children. Márta’s husband, Peter is also helping the pastor with his art: as a photographer, he is documenting the congregation’s different events.
Mária Takács, director
The film crew hopes that by presenting the community organizing work of Márta Bolba, attention can be raised to the importance of the organization of small communities, and to the indispensability of active human relationships.