THE LATEST ROMANIAN MOVIES

POLICE, ADJECTIVE (2009) – drama film online

Foreword: “Police, adjective” is not a “police film” (noun + adjective), but a film about a police officer (Cristi, played by Dragoș Bucur). – Alex. Leo Șerban

Synopsis: A police officer (Dragoș Bucur) refuses to arrest a young man for offering drugs to his friends.

Directed by: Corneliu Porumboiu
Script: Corneliu Porumboiu
Cast: Dragoș Bucur, Vlad Ivanov, Irina Saulescu, Ion Stoica, Marian Ghenea, George Remes, Cosmin Seleși, Adina Dulcu

BE MY CAT: A FILM FOR ANNE (2015) – horror film online

Foreword: A dizzying meta-horror film about obsession, fanaticism, madness, and narcissism, but also about reality versus fiction versus the realism of fiction, and about this serious game of appearances called Cinema, terribly assumed in its almost suicidal recklessness. – Mihai Chirilov, cinepub.ro

Synopsis: An aspiring filmmaker (played by the director himself) goes to shocking extremes to convince Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway to star in his film.

Directed by: Adrian Țofei
Script: Adrian Țofei
Cast: Adrian Țofei, Sonia Teodoriu, Florentina Hariton, Alexandra Stroe

AN ANGEL HOOKED ON ME(1984) – adventure film online

Foreword: Gheorghe Preda creates a unique type of cinema, one that draws inspiration from David Lynch and Michael Haneke, among others. The protagonist of “An Angel…” (Anca Florea) is a successful, solitary musician who lives in a sterile environment and tries to identify the man who sends her suspicious gifts.

Synopsis: A successful young musician, Ana (Anca Florea) discovers that she has become the object of affection of a stranger who, from a distance, fulfills her most varied desires. But this ritual of seduction is also a demonstration of strength and intelligence on the part of the mysterious admirer.

Directed by: Gheorghe Preda
Script: Gheorghe Preda
Cast: Anca Florea, Constantin Florescu, Emily Daler, Ioana Ginghină

CIREȘARII (1984) – adventure film online

Foreword: The first film in the second series of adaptations based on the famous children’s books written by Constantin Chiriță. First came the series directed by Andrei Blaier in the 1970s, followed by Petringenaru’s films: “Cireșarii” followed by “Aripi de zăpadă” (1985) and “Cetatea ascunsă” (1987).

Synopsis: Seven teenagers set off on a scientific expedition to Peştera Neagră (Black Cave) during their summer vacation. For safety reasons, they divide into two groups — one inside the cave and one outside on the mountain — and communicate using Morse code and two TFF devices.

Directed by: Adrian Petringenaru
Script: Constantin Chiriță
Cast: Ion Marinescu, Petre Gheorghiu-Dolj, Ernest Maftei, Nicolae Dinică, Victorița Dobre-Timonu, Ștefan Velniciuc și copiii: Răzvan Baciu, Alina Croitoru, Alina Dumitrescu, Robert Enescu, Horațiu Medveșan, Alexandru Rotaru, Gabriel Sîrbu, Florin Iordan, Marius Petre

THE NATIONAL CINEMATIC EPIC (2011) – documentary film online

Foreword: The archetypal figures of the Unifier of the Romanian nation combine endlessly, but those who accumulate all these attributes are at opposite poles of national history. They are Burebista and Ceaușescu, both leaders of a unitary, centralized, independent, and non-aligned state, in fact an eternal Romania. – Bogdan Jitea, cinepub.ro

Synopsis: The documentary addresses the issue of historical films during the Ceaușescu regime, a political commission for which enormous material and human resources were mobilized and which represented a formidable propaganda tool.

Directed by: Bogdan Jitea
Script by: Bogdan Jitea
Cast: Adrian Cioroianu, Sergiu Nicolaescu, Victor Rebengiuc, Cristian Tudor Popescu, Valerian Sava, Constantin Vaeni, Liviu Tofan

GATHERING CLOUDS (1985) – drama film online

Foreword: Adapted from Cezar Petrescu’s novel of the same name, “Gathering Clouds” is a war drama directed by Alexandru Tatos (director of “Sequences“) in a difficult period for Romania.

Synopsis: A believer in the idea that war is a means of renewing the world, the film’s main character, the young lawyer Radu Comşa, enrolls in military school and is sent to the front lines of World War I. Ironically, upon his return, marked by his experiences in the trenches, he can no longer find his place in the new post-conflict world, especially since his eyesight has been affected.

Directed by: Alexandru Tatos
Script: Petre Sălcudeanu (based on a novel by Cezar Petrescu)
Cast: Ion Caramitru, George Constantin, Remus Mărgineanu, Tania Filip, Emilia Dobrin-Besoiu, Vladimir Găitan, Dan Condurache, Florin Zamfirescu, Claudiu Stănescu, Valentin Voicilă, Ioana Pavelescu, Doina Tamas, Minodora Condur, Mariana Baboi

RUDIGER’S CAT (2022) – comedy film online

Rudiger’s Cat is the directorial debut of Dan Panaet, editor of satirical publications such as Times New Roman and Cațavencii and screenwriter for sketches and TV series.

Directed by: Dan Panaet
Script by: Mihai Radu
Cast: Alexandru Potocean, Voicu Aaniței, Nicu Banea, Ștefania Cîrcu, Mircea Nicola

THE PALE LIGHT OF SORROW (1980) – drama film online

After completing his masterpieces, “Life Does Not Forgive” (1957) and “Felix and Otilia” (1972), this is probably the most personal film of Iulian Mihu’s career, as it includes, in two and a half hours, just about all the fantasies and idiosyncrasies that populate his creative imagination. (cinepub.ro)

Directed by: Iulian Mihu
Script: George Macovescu
Cast: Liliana Tudor, Gheorghe Marin, Violeta Andrei, Florina Lucian, Siegfrid Siegmund, Emanoil Petruț, Florin Rarău, Andrei Finți, Maria Bodor, Ana Stoica, Ioana Popescu, Alida Colceag, Alexandru Racoviceanu, Ruxandra Macovescu, Gerard Kwanka, Coca Enescu, Gheorghe Bedivan, Gheorghe Novac, Andrei Șonea, Savel Știopul, Geo Saizescu

NO TRESPASSING (1975) – war film online

The film “No Trespassing” depicts the events of August 23, 1944, and the Battle of Păuliș. Students at the military school for officers must defend the country’s border from the Nazis. The film recounts the heroic deeds of Romanians against a numerically superior enemy and their preparation for battle.

Directed by: Doru Năstase
Script: Titus Popovici
Cast: Silviu Stănculescu, Vlad Rădescu, Ana Széles, Vladimir Găitan, George Motoi, Mihai Mereuță, Victor Mavrodineanu, Eugenia Bosînceanu, Cornel Coman, Sorin Lepa, Ștefan Velniciuc, Ovidiu Moldovan, Ilarion Ciobanu, Dinu Ianculescu, Ferenc Fabian, Constantin Dinulescu, Emil Liptac

AUGUST 23, 1944 / 2019 – documentary film online

On August 23, 1944, Marshal Ion Antonescu and Prime Minister Mihai Antonescu were arrested, Romania left its alliance with Nazi Germany and turned its weapons against it, continuing the war on the side of the British-Soviet-American coalition. This event marked the end of the fascist regime in Romania.

Directed by: Andra Tarara, David Schwartz, Roland Ibold
Cast: Iudith Ardeleanu, Ioseph Cotnăreanu, Lippa Baroti Segal, Pompiliu Sterian

THE BLUE GATES OF THE CITY (1974) – war film online

Foreword: “The Blue Gates of the City” is a film about war, about heroism, but above all, a film about humans. (Valerian Sava)

Directed by: Mircea Mureșan
Script: Marin Preda
Cast: Romeo Pop, Costel Constantin, Dan Nuțu, Ion Caramitru, Dumitru Furdui, Amza Pellea, Aurel Ciobanu, Dumitru Rucăreanu, Nicolae Dinică, Dan Damian, Eugen Popiță, Viorel Comănici, Petre Gheorghiu Goe, Matei Alexandru, Jean Lorin Florescu, Florin Scărlătescu, Ștefan Niculescu Cadet, Nucu Păunescu, Emil Reisenauer, Emilia Dobrin

OPERATION THE MONSTER (1976) – comedy film online

Foreword: “Operation The Monster” is one of the most famous comedies in Romanian cinema. For over three decades, Romanian audiences have maintained their interest in this parable of Romanian society during the communist era.

Directed by: Manole Marcus
Script: Titus Popovici
Cast: Toma Caragiu, Marin Moraru, Octavian Cotescu, Alexandru Manolescu, Elena Sereda, Nineta Gusti

TO KILL A BIRD OF PREY (1983) – drama film online

“To Kill a Bird of Prey” functions, narratively speaking, as a sort of sequel, set in an urban environment this time, to “A Girl’s Tear” (1980), the critically acclaimed film that marked the beginning of filmmaker Iosif Demian’s career. – Andrei Rus, cinepub.ro

Directed by: Iosif Demian
Script: Petre Sălcudeanu
Cast: George Negoescu, Dorel Vișan, Ioana Bulcă, Petre Simionescu, Camelia Zorlescu

A CREW FOR SINGAPORE (1982) – drama film online

Maritime commander Victor Ionescu (Gheorghe Cozorici) is experiencing a tragedy on shore. Since his cargo ship sank in the Caribbean, where only he and sailor Vasile Georgescu (Gheorghe Visu) survived, he has not received a crew or a ship. His wife (Mariana Mihuț) seems to want him, yet seems to be sending him out to sea. The man lingers in the port of Constanța, where ships are everywhere and the song of the waves gives him no peace. (cinepub.ro)

Directed by: Nicu Stan
Script: Ioan Grigorescu, Nicu Stan
Cast: Gheorghe Cozorici, Florin Zamfirescu, Mariana Mihuț, Victor Rebengiuc, Gheorghe Visu, Ștefan Sileanu, Radu Panamarenco, Jean Constantin, Ion Besoiu, Dumitru Palade, Radu Gheorghe, Iancu Lucian, Paul Avram, Emil Bîrlădeanu

AND THEY MAY STILL BE ALIVE TODAY (2019) – drama film online

The second feature film by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, following his debut with “The Japanese Dog” in 2013, “And They May Still Be Alive Today” is a discreet and introspective look at the relationship between Vlad and Clara (Bogdan Nechifor and Nicoleta Hâncu), each lost in their own anxieties and existential concerns. (cinepub.ro)

Directed by: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu
Script: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, Anca Tăbleț
Cast: Bogdan Nechifor, Nicoleta Hâncu

TITANIC WALTZ (1964) – comedy film online

A Romanian classic about political ambition, family compromise, and a man who absolutely refuses to be elected. A delightful comedy with serious undertones, still highly relevant today. Or, as Tudor Mușatescu put it, “the action takes place nowadays, in any town where there are mothers-in-law, wives, and prefectures.”

Directed by: Paul Călinescu
Script: Paul Călinescu, Tudor Mușatescu (novel “Titanic Waltz”)
Cast: Grigore Vasiliu-Birlic, Silvia Fulda, Kity Ghoerghiu Mușatescu, Mitzura Arghezi, Lucian Dinu, Coca Andronescu, Liviu Bădescu

OCCIDENT (2002) – comedy film online

Occident, the first feature film by Cristian Mungiu—our ‘our Palm d’Or’ as critic Alex. Leo Șerban affectionately calls him—bears something of the films of Pavel Lungin, Emir Kusturica, Nae Caranfil, and other auteurs from this part of the world who, after the fall of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc, found themselves stunned by the grotesque transition to capitalism.

Directed by: Cristian Mungiu
Script: Cristian Mungiu
Cast: Alexandru Papadopol, Dorel Vişan, Tania Popa, Coca Bloos, Tora Vasilescu, Ioan Gyuri Pascu, Valeriu Andriuţă, Anca Androne, Eugenia Bosânceanu, Julieta Strîmbeanu, Samuel Taste, Michael Beck, Alexandru Boghiu, Nicuşor Rada, Doru Ana, Viorel Comănici, Mihai Calotă, Ioan Chelaru

THE COLUMN (1968) – historic film online

Historical blockbuster: the cornerstone piece of the national cinematic epic, with action set during and after the second Dacian-Roman war (106–114), in the territory where new relationships begin to crystallize between victors and vanquished, between the winners of battles and the surviving native population, between those who seek to avenge past defeats and those who pursue reconciliation in order to halt the barbarian invasions. – Bujor T. Râpeanu (Filmed in Romania, 2004, Pro Foundation Publishing)

Directed by: Mircea Drăgan
Script: Titus Popovici
Cast: Richard Johnson, Antonella Lualdi, Ilarion Ciobanu, Ștefan Ciubotărașu, Amedeo Nazzari, Amza Pellea, Emil Botta, Franco Interlenghi, Gheorghe Dinică, Florin Piersic, Sidonia Manolache, Maria Cupcea, Ovidiu Iuliu Moldovan, Alexandrina Pascu, Ina Otilia Ghiulea, Nicolae Sireteanu, Nicolae Radu

PARKING (2019) – drama film online

Adrian is a Romanian poet who arrives illegally in Spain in 2002. Without papers, he starts working as a night watchman in a local shop owned by Rafael. However, his life takes a turn when he meets Maria, a guitarist in a jazz band.

Directed by: Tudor Giurgiu
Script: Tudor Giurgiu, Marin Mălaicu Hondrari
Cast: Mihai Smarandache, Belén Cuesta, Ariadna Gil, Luis Bermejo, Carmen Florescu, Eric Frances, Manuel Bandera, Emilian Oprea, Paul Cimpoieru, Cornel Brad, Valentin Popescu, Fülöp Erzsébet, Adrian Agustin, Gutierrez Canovas, Gonzalo Ruiz Lantero, Alex Dumdaca, Nando Besada, Pedro Hernandez, Jose Manuel Lucas, Alvaro de Arminan, Bogdan Crăciun, Luciano Panaitescu, Robert Zotta, Florentina Tănase, Cristina Păcurar, Liana Sărmășan, Maria Mureșan, Alina Țârcoman-Ochea, Romina Trufan, Anca Govu

ION – THE LUST FOR THE LAND (1980) – drama film online

Ion, a poor peasant from the village of Pripas, wants to join the ranks of the rich. His plan is to force Vasile Baciu, one of the village’s wealthy men, to give him his daughter Ana’s hand in marriage, and especially her dowry, the land that belongs to her. Ana becomes pregnant. At the same time, Ion is in love with Florica, a beautiful but poor girl.

Directed by: Mircea Mureșan
Script: Titus Popovici, Liviu Rebreanu (novel)
Cast: Șerban Ionescu, Ioana Crăciunescu, Sorina Stănculescu, Valentin Teodosiu, Petre Gheorghiu, Ion Besoiu, Octavian Cotescu, Tamara Buciuceanu, Catrinel Dumitrescu, Rodica Negrea, Romeo Pop, Leopoldina Bălănuță, Ion Hidisan, Valeria Seciu, Costel Constrantin, Petre Lupu, Ferenc Fabian

LOVE SICK (2006) – drama film online

You fall in love. There are no rules. To the rest of the world, it may seem unhealthy. It’s something that can hurt you, cause you pain… more than anything else. Alex and Kiki seem like two very good friends. In fact, they are experiencing a different kind of love. To their families, Kiki and Sandu are two siblings who argue from time to time. In reality, they are in love… with each other.

Director: Tudor Giurgiu
Scriptwriters: Cecilia Ștefănescu, Răzvan Rădulescu
Cast: Maria Popistașu, Ioana Barbu, Tudor Chirilă, Cătălina Murgea, Mircea Diaconu, Virginia Mirea, Tora Vasilescu, Valentin Popescu, Mihai Dinvale, Carmen Tănase, Dragoș Gărdescu (Puya), Mihaela Rădulescu

THE JDER BROTHERS (1974) – drama film online

“The Jder Brothers” (based on the novel ‘The Ionuț’s Apprenticeship’, the first part of the trilogy ‘The Jder Brothers’ by Mihail Sadoveanu) is not a politically innocent adventure film (as most viewers would have liked, seeking an escape from their dull everyday lives at the cinema), but one in keeping with the era in which it was made. (cinepub.ro)

Directed by: Mircea Drăgan
Script: Profira Sadoveanu, Valeria Sadoveanu, Constantin Mitru, Mircea Drăgan
Cast: Gheorghe Cozorici, Sebastian Papaiani, George Calboreanu, Toma Dimitriu, Geo Barton, Sandina Stan, Iurie Darie, Emanoil Petruț, Florin Piersic, Ioana Drăgan, George Motoi, Ștefan Velniciuc, Carmen Stănescu, Valeria Marian, Draga Olteanu-Matei, Jean Constantin, Colea Răutu, Gheorghe Dinică, Puiu Călinescu, Lucia Rîpeanu, Marcel Anghelescu

THE UPRISING (1965) – drama film online

Although the style, execution, and atmosphere of the film would not suggest it, “The Uprising” is part of the National Cinematic Epic project and has been cited as a good example of the series. From the longer list of directions proposed for this large ensemble, Mureșan’s “debut” follows the class struggle of Romanian peasants, the attempt to liberate the people, as well as the socialist seed that had formed at that time (and) in our country.

Directed by: Mircea Mureșan
Script: Mircea Mureșan, Petre Sălcudeanu, Liviu Rebreanu (novel)
Cast: Ilarion Ciobanu, Nicolae Secăreanu, Emil Botta, Ion Besoiu, Constantin Codrescu, Ana Felicia Chiriță, George Aurelian, Gheorghe Trestian, Val Săndulescu, Sandu Sticlaru, Ernest Maftei, Colea Răutu, Ștefan Mihăilescu-Brăila, Amza Pellea, Marga Anghelescu, Cristina Tacoi, Gheorghe Cozorici, Constantin Lungeanu

THE LAST NIGHT OF CHILDHOOD (1968) – drama film online

A sensitive film about young adults starring Liviu Tudan, member of the rock band “Roșu și Negru”. In a cinematic landscape dominated by the figure of the eternal adult — where human nuances and contradictions are either absent or quickly extinguished in the compromise of social order — Știopul’s film allows itself something rare: to look beyond exteriority, action, and purpose. (cinepub.ro)

Directed by: Savel Știopul
Script: Dumitru Carabăț
Cast: Liviu Tudan, Anton Tauf, Cornel Guriță, Irina Grădescu, Silvia Bădescu, Alina Ciurdăreanu, Vincențiu Grigorescu, Vera Petreanu, Dorin Dron, Constantin Diplan

THE ACTOR AND THE SAVAGES (1975) – drama film online

“The Actor and the Savages” is inspired by the life of the actor Constantin Tanase, a star of the Romanian revue theater who cultivated the satirical and political couplet in the interwar period. The famous revue theater “Vox”, directed by Costică Caratase, is preparing a show in which the resistance number is a virulent attack on Nazism and the Iron Guard. Both Caratase and his lyricist, Ionel Fridman, are told by the legionaries to quit.

Directed by: Manole Marcus
Script: Titus Popovici
Cast: Toma Caragiu, Mircea Albulescu, Margareta Pogonat, Ion Besoiu, Mircea Diaconu, Carmen Petrescu, Maria Chira, George Paul Avram, Marin Moraru, Ovidiu Iuliu Moldovan, Carmen Berbecaru, Gheorghe Simonca, Florin Zamfirescu, Lucia Boga, Lia Sahighian, Tricy Abramovici, Zephi Alșec, Cornel Ciupercescu, Constantin Dinulescu, Fana Geică, Horea Popescu, Mircea Veroiu, Ștefan Tury, Rudy Rosenfeld, Francisc Bentze, Constantin Drăgănescu, Nicolae Praida, Manu Nedeianu, Nicolae Patrichi, Mircea Cogan, Petre Gheorghiu-Goe, Mihăilescu Cartală, Ioana Crăciunescu, Mihai Perșa, Virgil Mogoș, Vasile Florescu, Iosif Gheorghe, Jeana Gorea, Eugen Racoți, Richard Rang, Petre Kuhn

LEGACY (2019) – drama film online

The film follows the death of a man, Anton (Marin Grigore) — a renowned pianist — and his attempts to repair a great misfortune in his final days. Boguță sets the story in the context of a detective film. The investigation led by Commissioner Mihnea Nicoară (Teo Corban) takes us from place to place, through a minimalist and oppressive Bucharest, to the man’s relatives, colleagues, and friends, revealing mainly intimate/ illegitimate (?) secrets of his family. (cinepub.ro)

Directed by: Dorian Boguță
Script: Dorian Boguță, Loredana Novak, Tudor Voican
Cast: Teo Corban, Irina Rădulescu, Marin Grigore, Liviu Pintileasa, Lucian Ifrim, Mădălina Ghenea, Dragoș Bucur, Istvan Téglás, Ilona Brezoianu, Mircea Bibac, Maria Oarcea, Floriela Grapini, Claudiu Dumitru, Adina Ștețcu, Sorin Cociș, Claudia Susanu, Claudiu Crăciunică, Codin Maticiuc, Diana Gordon

OTHERWISE MAGAZINE
Mohamed Tomescu

Passionate about hip-hop and raised by his grandmother in Vama village, in Romania’s Suceava county, Mohamed wants to change his surname but is troubled by how his Syrian father would react to his decision.

Otherwise is a publication run by a team of editors from academia, writing and the visual arts. A space for sharing stories that matter, encouraging the cultivation and practice of storytelling as a narrative of ordinary, everyday life.

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