London launches Roumanian films programme

This below from the ever faithful and well informed Nine O'Clock - and I'd just like to add my own grain of salt:  that Mr Lazarescu made me sob like a Madeleine and how anyone can call it a comedy is beyond me...it's the very true to life tragedy of a poor man who goes to hospital after suffering chest pain and is pushed from pillar to post until he finally gives up the ghost. It is truly not funny and portrays the very real drama of the health system in the country of my heart that has made no sign of improvement since the film was released in 2005. It should be a 'phare' in the country's need to improve on health care and is more educational than it is given credit for. Perhaps some people did find it amusing, those who are hardened to every day life in Roumanian hospitals and the treament of its sick. I am not and I know many who howled as much as I did. I continued to howl for days after, not wanting to believe it could actually happen but knowing full well that it did. Mr Lazarescu is a requiem to all victims of a health service that cannot provide a service. Period. Why is for another post, but you are more than welcome to comment (!!).

Roumanian films are superb. I have always believed that they are made more for the ignorant foreign public who have no idea of Roumanian life, and not for Roumanian viewers at all. the general foreigner considers Roumania to be Dracula, orphans and gypsies who'd stab you for 5 euros - maybe even less. With marvellous directors such as Puiu, Nemescu (California Dreamin' is beyond words for excellence) and Mungiu, life in Roumania becomes real, whether it be present day or that which has passed. The ghosts and the scars remain, either way, and no Roumanian film can leave you cold.

Bravo, London! May the rest of Western Europe follow the example of educating their citizens.

The Romanian Cultural Institute in London has launched a special programme designed to bring the country’s best films in the British capital city.

The project will include screenings of both older films and works by the new wave of highly successful and multi-awarded directors, such as Cristi Puiu, Corneliu Porumboiu and Cristian Mungiu.

The programme is designed to recreate Romanian cinema’s path from the recent success and local pictures’ international breakthrough to the years when directors were going against communist rule constraints and produced extraordinary films. The first film, screened yesterday evening, was highly acclaimed “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu,” by Puiu. Released in 2005, the comedy-drama tells the seemingly absurd story of an old man carried by an ambulance from hospital to hospital all night long, as doctors keep refusing to treat him and send him away.

‘The Death of Mr. Lazarescu’ enjoyed immediate critical acclaim, both in film festivals, where it won numerous awards, and after wider release, enthusiastic reviews.

The film received more than 20 awards, among which: Cannes Film Festival - Un Certain Regard Award, Transilvania International Film Festival (Cluj-Napoca) - Audience Award, Chicago International Film Festival - Silver Hugo Special Jury Prize. It also received nominations for Best Director and Best Screenwriter at the 2005 European Film Awards, and for Best Foreign Film at the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards.

The following films to be screened in London between April and July include: ‘Reconstituirea’ (‘Reconstruction’) by Lucian Pintilie, ‘Filantropica’ (‘Philantropy’) by Nae Caranfil, ‘O lacrima de fata’ (‘A Girl’s Tears’) by Iosif Demian, ‘California Dreamin’ (nesfarsit)’ by Cristian Nemescu. The project is organised together with the National Center of Romanian Cinema. All films will be screened with English subtitles.

Nine O'Clock