# A Refreshing Turn: Ellen Burstyn Shines in Kornél Mundruczó’s ‘Place to Be’
*By Alex Billington | September 9, 2026*
The 2026 Venice Film Festival has played host to a wide array of experimental cinema, but few entries are as charmingly eccentric as *Place to Be*. Directed by Hungarian auteur Kornél Mundruczó, this road trip comedy serves as a surprising, lighthearted pivot for the filmmaker.
### A Tale of Two Films
It has been a busy year for Mundruczó. *Place to Be* marks his second major feature release of 2026, following his earlier appearance at the Berlinale with *At the Sea*. While that previous project-starring Amy Adams-was met with significant critical disappointment (read my review here), his latest effort is a marked improvement. Where his previous work felt disjointed, *Place to Be* offers a comforting, cinematic salve that feels perfectly timed for the current cultural climate.
### An Unlikely Duo on the Open Road
The narrative centers on a whimsical premise: an elderly woman, portrayed with effortless grace by the legendary Ellen Burstyn, finds her life upended when a pigeon wanders into her home. This chance encounter sparks an impulsive journey from her quiet life toward the bustling streets of New York City and back again.
While the film leans into the well-worn tropes of the “road trip” genre, it manages to remain consistently engaging. The structure is undeniably formulaic, yet it succeeds through the sheer magnetism of its lead. As she traverses the country, Burstyn’s character forms an unexpected bond with a struggling, divorced father battling alcoholism. Through this connection-and a deep dive into the niche, fascinating world of competitive pigeon racing-she finds a renewed sense of wonder in a world she thought she had already seen in full.
### Why It Works
In an era where independent cinema often prioritizes cynicism or high-concept abstraction, *Place to Be* stands out by embracing sincerity. It is a conventional story, certainly, but it is told with such warmth that its predictability becomes a strength rather than a flaw. By grounding the absurdity of a bird-centric odyssey in the genuine emotional growth of its protagonist, Mundruczó has crafted a film that is as heart-warming as it is odd.
