Romanian Film Festival

California Dreamin' (California Dreamin') ******

Romania, 2007 (155 min, unfinished cut)
Directed by Cristian Nemescu

"Unfinished when the talented 27-year old helmer died in a traffic accident some six weeks after wrapping the shoot, the picture spins a complex dark comedy of near-Shakespearean proportions." (Alissa Simon, Variety)

"The movie, a satire on the culture clash between American NATO troops and small-town Romanians during the 1999 Kosovo conflict,  has won the Iris Award, the top prize at the Brussels European Film Festival. The movie already won the 'Un Certain Regard' award at Cannes in May [2007]." (Leo Cendrowicz, The Hollywood Reporter) Read synopsis

****** THIS FILM WILL BE FEATURED ON 35mm IN THE 2008 WISCONSIN FILM FESTIVAL, ON FRIDAY APRIL 4TH, 9:15PM AT THE UW CINEMATHEQUE. Visit their website or scroll down this page for details on how to purchase tickets *******

Short Films I:

-Liviu's Dream (Visul lui Liviu)

Directed by Corneliu Porumboiu, 2004, 40 min

-A Trip to the City

Directed by Corneliu Porumboiu, 2003, 19min

-Turkey Girl (Curcanii nu zboara)

Directed by Cristian Mungiu, 2005, 20 min.
(Screening canceled. Due to circumstances beyond our control we are unable to show Turkey Girl)

-Zapping

Directed by Cristian Mungiu, 2000, 14 min.
Read synopses
 

 

American Fiancés (Logodnicii din America)

Romania, 2007 (80 min)
Directed by Nicolae Margineanu

"The dynamics between the characters are the main merit of the film, with their gradual crescendo, changing rhythms and climaxes." (Calin Caliman, Adevarul) Read synopsis

 

Reenactment (Reconstituirea)

Romania, 1968 (106 min)
Directed by Lucian Pintilie

"New and innovative, not only for Romanian cinema but for world cinema in retrospect." (Milos Stehlik)

"The shock of Reenactment is a vital, regenerating one, because it is the prelude for other shocks, which will replace a cinema of mystification by a cinema fanatically faithful to the truth." (Lucian Pintilie)
Read synopsis

The Paper Will Be Blue (Hartia va fi albastra)

Romania, 2006 (95 min)
Directed by Radu Muntean

"Muntean had the inspiration to shoot everything from that ideal distance that tells genuine Cinema from demonstration and improvisation." (Alex. Leo Serban, Re:publik)

"[The Paper Will Be Blue] achieves a high degree of naturalism, creating docudrama feel without ever edging into preachiness." (Leslie Felperin, Variety)
Read synopsis

The Rest is Silence (Restul e tacere)

Romania, 2008 (140 min)
Directed by Nae Caranfil

"The Rest Is Silence comes like a breath of fresh air at a time when it’s easy to assume that (currently “hot”) Romanian cinema is all grungy, DV-shot, miserabilist dramas.   Lively, witty widescreen costumer, about the making of the country’s first feature-length movie, it is an intelligent crowd-pleaser made with affection for its characters and era." (Derek Elley, Variety)

"Based on the true story of the making of a two-hour silent film titled "The Independence of Romania" in 1911, the colorful 140-minute production [The Rest Is Silence] should be required viewing for moviemakers and movie buffs who wish to complete their cinema education. […] It’s a rollicking story told in splashy terms with boisterous performances and lots of tall tales." (Ray Bennett, The Hollywood Reporter)  Read synopsis

The Great Communist Bank Robbery (Marele jaf comunist)

Romania, 2004 (documentary, 85 min)
Directed by Alexandru Solomon

"Both a bizarre recreation of a crime of which the motive is still difficult to fathom and an astonishing evocation of a lost world of Romanian Stalinism.” (Nick Fraser, Storyville Series Editor, BBC) 

 Read synopsis

Short Films II:

-A Short History (Scurta istorie)

Directed by Ion Popescu-Gopo, 1957, animation, 10 min

-The Apartment (Apartamentul)

Directed by Costantin Popescu, 2003, 15 min.

-Humanitarian Aid (Ajutoare umanitare)

Directed by Hanno Hofer, 2002, 17 min.

-Tube with a Hat (Lampa cu caciula)

Directed by Radu Jude, 2006, 23 min. 

-C Block Story (Poveste de la scara C)

Directed by Cristian Nemescu, 2003, 12 min

-Traffic (Trafic)

Directed by Catalin Mitulescu, 2004, 15 min. Read synopses
 

Exam (Examen)

Romania, 2007 (80 min)
Directed by Titus Muntean

"Exam is a film not to be missed. It isn’t only a thriller, it is a thriller about the “Golden Age” of communism" (Andrei Gorzo)
Read synopsis




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ANNOUNCING April 3-6 2008, The anniversary edition of the

Wisconsin Film Festival

The full film program and schedule will be posted online on Thursday, March 6, 2008.  TICKETS will be available starting on Saturday, March 8, 2008. These are sold through the festival's website and at their box office location in the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., Madison, Wisconsin.  
The Romanian film California Dreamin' (2007, directed by Cristian Nemescu) will be presented on Friday April 4th, 9:15PM at the UW Cinematheque (scroll up page for film details).




ANNOUNCINGApril 11, 2008, the 2007 Cannes "Palme d'Or" top award -winner:

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days

Romania, 2007
Directed by Cristian Mungiu
Screenings at the Orpheum Theatre, 216 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin.  Tickets will be available at the theatre box office.