by Nathaniel R
Romanian cinema was largely neglected and underfunded until after the fall of Communism in 1989. Things began to pick up after that. In the mid-Aughts the country's cinema became a critical cause with prize-winning films emerging with great frequency. The country's most acclaimed cinema is often categorized by gallows humor and incisive or satiric socioeconomic and political commentary.
For the second episode of this new season of "Posterized" and "Making Waves" a retrospective of Romanian cinema currently playing a US tour, we've selected the (arguably) 15 most famous and/or acclaimed films from the country over the past 30 years. How many of these have you seen? Don't feel bad if your number is very low (we haven't seen the majority of them either) but do you see anything you've been meaning to catch up with or that now piques your interest?
Carnival Scenes (1981, Lucian Pintille) Banned until the fall of Communism in 1989, this influential bitter ensemble comedy eventually became their Oscar submission in 1990.
Hotel de Lux (1992, Dan Pita) - Oscar submission. An allegorical film about a luxury hotel that operates like a Communist country. It won the Silver Lion at Venice
Philanthropy (2002, Nae Caranfil) - Oscar submission. Another dark comedy, this one about a middle aged teacher out for a quick buck who falls for a young fellow con artist posing as his wife.
The Death of Mr Lazarescu (2005, Cristi Piuiu) -Oscar submission. A damning critical sensation (it won the Un Certain Regard at Cannes and many other prizes) about medical bureaucracies and a old widower who lives alone with cats and the nurse who attempts to help him. The running time has thus far kept me away but I've only ever heard that it's brilliant. Have you seen it?
12:08 East of Bucharest (2006, Corneliu Porumboiu) - A comedy about a talk show host, a professor, and a pensioner and the history of their town. Camera D'Or winner at Cannes and an Indie Spirit nomination too.
The Way I Spent the End of the World (2006, Catalin Mitulescu) -Oscar submission. A film about a teenage girl and her little brother, one dreaming of escaping Communist Romania by swimming across the Danube, the other plotting with other children to assassinate the dictator. A Best Actress prize in Cannes Un Certain Regard section.
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (2007, Cristian Mungiu) - This abortion drama won the Palme D'Or at Cannes before a Golden Globe nomination, and an infamous Oscar snub. It helped change AMPAS rules leading to the formation of the Executive Committee to make Oscar's international category safer for instant masterpieces. It is also the highest grossing Romanian film in the US, cracking a million in US arthouses in the early months of 2008 despite or perhaps because of the controversy surrounding the Oscar snub.
Police, Adjectif (2009, Cornelia Porumboiu) - Oscar submission. A drama about a policeman investigating a teenage boy's drug use. It won the Jury Prize at Cannes Un Certain Regard.
Tuesday, After Christmas (2010, Radu Muntean) - a must-see for fans of relationship dramas. An uninhibited drama about an extramarital affair. Amazing performances.
If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (2010, Florin Serbian) - Oscar submission. A drama about a juvenile offender about to be released from prison whose mother resurfaces.
Beyond the Hills (2012, Cristian Mungiu) - Oscar submission. A drama about two women in an Eastern Orthodox convent. Unless 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days was in the dread sixth spot at the Oscar (we'll never know) this other critical darling from Mungiu is the Romanian film that came closest to a nomination as it made the finalist list (the two-step process initiated shortly after 4 Months's snub). Sadly, no Romanian film has ever been Oscar-nominated and this is the sole entry that has made the finalist list to date. Winner of Best Screenplay at Cannes.
Child's Pose (2013, Calin Peter Netzer) - Oscar submission, festival favourite (Berlin's Golden Bear), and a must-see for Actressexuals with a totally fierce performance by one of Romania's most exciting actors Luminita Gheorghiu (EFA nomination) as a grieving but amoral mother.
Aferim! (2015, Radu Jude) - Oscar submission. While the bulk of popular Romanian films are set in the present or the very recent past this adventure film about a cop trying to find a Gypsy slave is set in the 19th century. Best Director at Berlin and a Foreign Film win at the OFCS.
Graduation (2016, Cristian Mungiu) - This parental drama won Best director prize at Cannes (for the oft-celebrated Mungiu) plus César and EFA nominations... but it wasn't Romania's choice for the Oscar submission. Due to...
Sierranevada (2016, Cristi Puiu) - Oscar submission. A three hour dramedy about a family gathering for the patriach's funeral.
How many of those 15 pictures have you seen? If it's only 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days... which of these titles most intrigues you?
If you're interested in this topic be on the lookout for "Making Waves" a 30 Film Retrospective on Romanian Cinema that is touring various museums and arthouses through May 2020. It's hitting Philadelphia's Lightbox Film Center in March and is also playing at the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle.