Since I arrived here, I've been interested in many different types of film, but recently, I've been watching a lot of Eastern European films - Scandinavian too, but I'll write another article about them - . A year ago, I had to do a presentation in my cinema class about Romanian films. I had only seen a few of them - the famous Palme d'Or at Cannes called "4 months 3 weeks and 2 days" - and I have to say that the films discovered here in Seattle, from Poland, Romania, Czech Republic or Hungary, are quite surprising and interesting, very different from one another, but rich and human. I am not here to tell you everything about them, just to give you a kick overview, and to give you the envy to go see them when they're out, wherever you are.
The Christening (M. Wrona, Poland) : The story of this film is based on the life of a man who, after operating as a criminal in his home town, finds himself in Warsaw. He hopes to change his luck. Unfortunately, there is a mafia sentence against him - he can either pay, or die. The man, Michal, desperately tries to find a way to save his family, his wife and baby, even though he knows he can not save himself. A few days before the christening of his child, his ex- best friend Janek, who was in the army, comes back, and Michal invites him to be the godfather of the baby. But Janek is approached by the mafia, and faces a terrible dilemma...
A incredible thriller, but also a great look at friendship, masculinity and fatherhood. All the actors sound right, and the violence of this film is simply astonishing. The rhythm isn't linear at all, and you end up profoundly disturb but amazed by the power of this film.
Hello, how are you? (A. Maftei, Romania) : Gabriel and Gabriela have been happily married for 20 years, but their sexual desire for each other no longer exists. After having spent a couple of nights chatting with a stranger on the Internet, they both fall in love – not knowing they have actually found each other. The passionate arousal for the unknown complicates with the guilt for cheating on a lifetime partner. Even more confused is their adolescent and sexually very active son Vladimir, when he finds out that his parents also have desires. One day an encounter of the virtual lovers becomes inevitable...
A brilliant direction, some almost perfect shots, a great sense of lights, this romantic comedy has nothing to be jealous about concerning American blockbusters. Sensitive, funny, full of realism, it is a true breath of fresh air and a shot of positivism.
Tuesday, After Christmas (R. Muntean, Romania): Paul Hanganu married Adriana ten years ago, but for the past six months, he has been involved in an extra-marital affair with Raluca, a dentist. A few days before Christmas, Paul decides to take his daughter to the dentist. An unexpected change in his wife's schedule brings the two women to meet, and it forces Paul to face a difficult decision.
I had no idea how good this film would turned out to be. From the opening scene, during which the camera stays still on the two lovers in bed, and until the break-up scene - whose break-up, I shall not say - , it is a sensitive and fine treatment of love affairs and of how complicated life and relationships can be. The break-up scene is entirely shot, and the power and emotion that emanate from it are just... incredible.
Mamas & Papas (A. Nellis, Czech Republic) : Four stories of the possible shades of modern parenthood : adoption, abortion, loss of a child and large families. All the stories touch on the same subject but from different angles. However, they all create a picture of how complicated and strangely unnatural the most natural process in the world has become in our society. Each story and character are entirely explored and developed. Each psychology is precise and profound. There is no superficiality, no short cut, no glitters. It is a film - it could be a documentary - about mamas and papas/ mères et pères/ mothers and fathers, and its humanity is so deep that it rises its quality above its subject. It a moving and highly intelligent film.
*** Things I didn't write about but that are also to see (Eastern European films of course) : If I want to whistle, I whistle (F. Serban, Silver Bear at Berlin 10, Romania) and Bibliothèque Pascal (S. Hajdu, Hungary - short review written about it a few weeks ago, go check it out, Palm Springs article).***
MJ.
