THE LATEST ROMANIAN MOVIES
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
HOREA (1984) – historical film online
The three leaders of the Transylvanian peasant uprising of 1784 were two: Horea. That’s how the popular joke about the apostles sounded, and that’s how “Horea” (1984, dir. Mircea Mureșan) directs its focus, largely ignoring the community aspect of the revolt, to bring out the image of a leader who was a sweet-talking, particularly enlightened, almost mystical leader. – cinepub.ro
Directed by: Mircea Mureșan
Script: Titus Popovici
Cast: Ovidiu Iuliu Moldovan, Șerban Ionescu, Dan Săndulescu, Radu Beligan, Mircea Albulescu, Enikö Szilágy, Ion Besoiu, Petrică Gheorghiu, Florin Chiriac, Siegfried Siegmund, Alexandru Repan, Mircea Diaconu, Nicolae Albani, Zoltán Vadász, Mircea Hindoreanu, Costel Rădulescu
HAPPY BOX (2025) – documentary film online
After hundreds of boxes sent all over the country, after stories that have traveled from one hand to another, from one soul to another – HappyBox becomes a film. A short documentary about how generosity turns into a story. And about how each packaged smile has unwittingly written a script.
Directed by: Irina Malcea-Cândea
Cast: Vicky- Virginia Alexandrescu
Producer: Irina Malcea-Cândea (Luna Film)
TWO NIGHTS IN APRIL (2017) – drama film online
Andrei Inizian explores the theme of love in a young couple, a love that is supposed to come with total trust in each other.
A sound designer and his future wife record their conversations all the time. In one of those discussions, they talk about the freedom they should enjoy in their relationship.
Directed by: Andrei Inizian
Script by: Andrei și Sergiu Inizian
Cast: Bogdan Nechifor, Minodora Broscoi, Alina Ilin
THE MOROMETE FAMILY: ON THE EDGE OF TIME (2018) – drama film online
The movie adapts for the screen the second book in the series written by Marin Preda – a series that x-rayed the Romanian countryside during the period of instability around the Second World War, through the destiny of the Moromete family. The film, in turn, follows the turmoil within the family going through the first stage of its destabilization, in full confrontation with another – cinepub.ro
Directed by: Stere Gulea
Script: Marin Preda (novel), Stere Gulea
Cast: Horațiu Mălăele, Dana Dogaru, Paul Ipate, Marian Adochiței, Andreea Bibiri, Anca Androne, Iosif Paștina, Ioana Bugarin, Răzvan Vasilescu, George Mihăiță, Andi Vasluianu, Oana Pellea, Ion Caramitru, Gheorghe Visu, Florin Zamfirescu, Mihai Bobonete, Marian Râlea, Cuzin Toma, Liviu Pintileasa, Dorina Chiriac, Dragoș Huluba, Marius Florea Vizante, Bogdan Talașman, Cristian Șofron, Alex Bogdan, Ana Ciontea, Lucian Iftime, Costel Cașcaval, Constantin Dinulescu, Alexandru Potocean, Ion Arcudeanu
THE MORNINGS OF A SENSIBLE YOUTH (1967) – drama film online
Bucharest in “The Mornings of a Sensible Youth” is bohemian: the streets are intimate, the movie theaters are full, and the cafes are home to young souls in search of meaning. It’s not the pop-scintillating Bucharest of his contemporary “A Film with a Charming Girl” (1966, dir. Lucian Bratu), but life is still spent with the mind in fickle clouds. – cinepub.ro
Directed by: Andrei Blaier
Script: Constantin Stoiciu, Andrei Blaier
Cast: Dan Nuțu, Irina Petrescu, Ștefan Ciubotărașu, Sebastian Papaiani, Ion Caramitru, George Constantin, Octavian Cotescu, Mariana Mihuț, Carmen Galin, Elena Sereda, Mimi Enaceanu
SUBTLE SHADES (2025) – drama film online
Domestic violence is, unfortunately, still a current topic in Romanian society. Adrian Pădurețu explores this through a story in a loop, in which the effect has an already known cause and the abuse is normalized – cinepub.ro
Directed by: Adrian Pădurețu
Script by: Alina Grigore
Cast: Sandra Ducuța, Andrei Anghel, Alina Grigore, Ionuț Achivoaie
TOO LITTLE FOR SUCH A BIG WAR (1970) – war film online
‘Too Small for Such a Big War’ is similar to films such as ‘Práče’ (1960, dir. Karel Kachyňa) or ‘Ivan’s Childhood’ (1962, dir. Andrei Tarkovski), in which the optimism and serenity of childhood are glimpsed in the muddy space of the horrors of war.” – cinepub.ro
Directed by: Radu Gabrea
Script: Dumitru Radu Popescu, Aurel Petri (idea)
Cast: Mihai Filip, Mircea Albulescu, Gheorghe Cozorici, Jean Constantin, Gheorghe Dinică, Ernest Maftei, Dan Nuțu, Ileana Popovici, Ștefan Radof, Liviu Rozorea, Ovidiu Schumacher, Nikolaus Wolcz, Petre Gheorghiu-Goe, Costel Iordache, Gelu Manolache, Florin Măcelaru, Simion Negrilă, Rudy Rosenfeld, Aristice Teica
PĂCALĂ (1974) – comedy film online
Preoccupied with tricks and tricks, Păcală (Sebastian Papaiani) navigates among peasants, bandits, gendarmes and officials, juggling with social order, protected by a pseudo-mythical providence. Three times he almost dies and three times he is saved. – cinepub.ro
Directed by: Geo Saizescu
Script: Dumitru Radu Popescu, Geo Saizescu
Cast: Sebastian Papaiani, Mariella Petrescu, Ștefan Mihăilescu-Brăila, Vasilica Tastaman, Octavian Cotescu, Mariana Mihuț, Aurel Cioranu, Cosma Brașoveanu, Tanți Cocea, Ion Besoiu, Ovid Teodorescu, Ștefan Bănică, Geo Saizescu, Nucu Păunescu, Ileana Stana Ionescu, Dorina Lazăr, Mihai Mereuță, Alexandru Lungu, Dumitru Chesa, Dorel Vișan
STEPHEN THE GREAT – VASLUI 1475 – historic film online
On May 21, 1469, on the feast of the Holy Ascension, Stephen the Great takes part in the feast of the monastery of Neamt, where he introduces his son, Alexander the Great, to the people. Stephen asks for help from the people to wage war ‘against the unruly’ and decides that all peasants should receive weapons and prepare for battle.
Directed by: Mircea Drăgan
Script: Mihail Sadoveanu (roman), Valeria Sadoveanu, Constantin Mitru, Mircea Drăgan
Cast: Gheorghe Cozorici, Gheorghe Dinică, Violeta Andrei, Toma Dimitriu, Sandina Stan, Geo Barton, Ana Széles, Iurie Darie, Sebastian Papaiani, Emanoil Petruț, Florin Piersic
MONSTERS (2019) – drama film online
The question mark under which “Monsters.” unfolds its bittersweet story is that of the possibility of uncontaminated choice; of deciding mutual support in a stumbling but affectionate situation; of formulating a type of relationship that doesn’t have to succumb to the mold – cinepub.ro
Directed by: Marius Olteanu
Script: Marius Olteanu
Cast: Judith State, Cristian Popa, Alexandru Potocean, Șerban Pavlu, Dorina Lazăr, Gabriel Răuță, Alina Berzunteanu, Alina Tarbă, Rolando Matsangos
POSTCARDS WITH WILD FLOWERS (1975) – drama film online
“Postcards with Wild Flowers” (1975, dir. Andrei Blaier) is the only movie made during the socialist period in which the subject of abortion is tackled head-on.
Directed by: Andrei Blaier
Script: Andrei Blaier
Cast: Draga Olteanu Matei, Eliza Petrăchescu, Carmen Galin, Elena Albu, Dan Nuțu, Gheorghe Dinică, Ana Ciclovan, George Mihăiță, Paul Ioachim, Constantin Florescu, Dumitru Chesa, George Negoescu, Marcel Gingulescu, Gheorghe Tomescu, Jana Gorea, Petre Gheorghiu-Goe, Traian Petruț, Haralambie Polizu, Traian Danceanu, Eugen Mandric, Astra Dan, Petre Vasilescu, Dumitru Onofrei
SNAPSHOT AROUND THE FAMILY TABLE (1980) – romantic film online
The architect Filip Halunga (Aleksandr Kalyagin – voiced by Marin Moraru) leaves his family to live with Nușa (Anda Călugăreanu), a designer much younger than him, attractive and nonconformist. Halunga remorselessly leaves his family, only to return to his marital home after his new girlfriend tires of him.
Directed by: Ada Pistiner
Script: Ștefan Iureș
Cast: Aleksandr Kaliaghin, Anda Călugăreanu, Dorina Lazăr, Estera Neacșu, Radu Panamarenco, George Bănică, Lujza Orosz, Raluca Zamfirescu, Liviu Rozorea, Ștefan Sileanu, Sorin Postelnicu, Marian Râlea, Boris Petroff, Ion Fiscuteanu, Alexandru Amzulescu, Ștefan Niculescu, Marin Moraru (voice)
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.
Discover more interesting articles on Otherwise website
WATCH MORE ROMANIAN MOVIES ONLINE
M.B. IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ON THE SEASIDE (1971) – comedy movie online
When Going to Fight the Blizzard and the Night is Good to Have Somebody with You – short film online
TEST PAPER (1987) – love film online
THE KIDNAPPING OF THE MAIDENS (1968) – adventure film online
In Which the Protagonist Hides and Then Has an Unexpected Encounter
BUCHAREST IDENTITY CARD (1982) – comedy film online
PĂCALĂ (1974) – comedy film online
PARKING (2019) – drama film online
THE JDER BROTHERS (1974) – drama film online
THROUGH THE ASHES OF THE EMPIRE (1976) – war movie online
Aurora – feature film
THE ACTOR AND THE SAVAGES (1975) – drama film online
THE MOROMETE FAMILY: ON THE EDGE OF TIME (2018) – drama film online
FANTASTIC COMEDY (1975) – fantastic film online
THE MISCELLANEOUS BRIGADE STRIKES AGAIN (1970) – comedy film online
An Ambiguous Geographical Area, but, for Now, Let’s Call It a Delta – short film online
IANCU JIANU, THE TAX COLLECTOR (1982) – drama film online
POSTCARDS WITH WILD FLOWERS (1975) – drama film online
A MIDSUMMER DAY’S SMILE (1964) – comedy movie online
THE UPRISING (1965) – drama film online
TASTE AND COLOR OF HAPPINESS (1978) – drama film online
TOO LITTLE FOR SUCH A BIG WAR (1970) – war film online
MEDA OR THE NOT SO BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS (2017) – feature film online
CHARLESTON (2017) – drama film online
Extravaganzia Large, Thin Crust and Hot Sauce – short film online
TĂNASE SCATIU (1976) – drama film online
NIGHT PATROL (2022) – comedy film online
UNCLE MARIN, THE BILLIONAIRE (1979) – comedy film online
Love Building – feature film online
METRONOM (2022) – drama film online
CRITICS RECOMMENDATIONS | LAURENȚIU BRĂTAN | FEATURE FILMS
STUFF AND DOUGH
Director: Cristi Puiu
Date: 2001
Category: FEATURE FILM
Duration: 90 min.
DOMESTIC
Directed by: Adrian Sitaru
Date: 2012
Category: FEATURE FILM
Duration: 85 min.
ADALBERT’S DREAM
Director: Gabriel Achim
Date: 2011
Category: FEATURE FILM
Duration: 98 min.
THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD
Director: Radu Jude
Date: 2009
Category: FEATURE FILM
Duration: 99 min.
THE UNSAVED
Director: Igor Cobileanski
Date: 2013
Category: FEATURE FILM
Duration: 82 min.
Q&A
Questions and Answers, in short Q&As, is the acronym used by the film festivals to name the discussions held after the screening between the public and the team behind the film. We bring to you for watching online an important number of Romanian short films, and after the „screening” we invite you to a Q&A session involving questions that had been asked by our Cinepub team or already addressed by our viewers on our Facebook page and the filmmakers’ answers. The Q&As represent a way to find out more about the people behind the films: directors, scriptwriters, directors of photography, producers or actors.