Synopsis
A mistery about the human soul
We present the film “Aurora”, directed by Cristi Puiu, “a story about murder from a new perspective”.
Directed by: Cristi Puiu
Script: Cristi Puiu
Cast: Cristi Puiu, Clara Vodă, Valeria Seciu, Luminiţa Gheorghiu, Catrinel Dumitrescu, Gelu Colceag, Valentin Popescu, Alexandru Lazăr, Andrei Mateiu, Leo Profir, Iulian Puiu, Sorin Medeleni, Gheorghe Ifrim, Simona Popescu, Lucian Ifrim, Adina Cristescu, Mona Dobrișan, Dana Cavaleru, Alina Grigore, Aanda Bîrleanu, Richard Bovnoczki, Cristina Toma, Constantin Diță, Stelian Zamfir, Gheorghe Aur, Ion Stoica, Carmela Culda, Ileana Puiu, Lucian Ciurariu
Producer: Anca Puiu, Bobby Păunescu
Co-producers: Philippe Bober, Dan Wechsler
Cinematography: Viorel Servogici
Sound editing: François Musy Gabriel Hafner
Sound mixing: André Rigaut
Editing: Ioachim Stroe
Costumes: Ana Andrei, Monica Florescu
Scenography: Vali Ighigheanu, Andreea Popa
Year: 2010
Category: feature film
Genre: fiction
Duration: 181 minutes
124,741 – Cinepub viewers
PLOT SUMMARY
42-year-old Viorel, a distraught engineer, takes drastic measures to end his emotional suffering after enduring a devastating divorce.
More details …
An apartment kitchen: a man and a woman discuss Little Red Riding Hood, their voices hushed, mindful of waking the little girl sleeping next room. Waste land on the city outskirts: behind a line of abandoned trailers, the man silently watches what seems to be a family. The same city, the same man: driving through traffic with two hand-made firing pins for a hunting rifle. The man is 42 years old, his name – Viorel. Troubled by obscure thoughts, he drives across the city to a destination known only to him.
What critics say:
“Aurora” is a tale of murders, but it’s not about murder. Unlike “Targets,” “Falling Down” or similar pics, “Aurora” doesn’t concern itself with the reasons behind the killings but rather takes a seemingly neutral eye to the decision behind the acts (…) As such, it’s a cold movie (and a long one), but it’s undeniably the product of a master helmer. (Jay Weissberg, variety.com)
Festivals/Awards:
- Nomination, Un Certain Regard Award (Cristi Puiu), Cannes Film Festival, 2010
- Gil Parrondo Award, Best Production Design (Vali Ighigheanu, Andreea Popa), Gijón International Film Festival, 2010
- Nomination, Grand Prix Asturias, Best Film (Cristi Puiu), Gijón International Film Festival, 2010
- Gopo Award, Best Directing (Cristi Puiu), 2012
- Gopo Award, Best Screenplay (Cristi Puiu), 2012
- Gopo Award, Best Feature Film (Anca Puiu, Bobby Păunescu, Cristi Puiu)
- Nomination, Gopo Awards, Best Sound (André Rigaut, François Musy, Gabriel Hafner, Cristian Tarnovetchi, Mandragora), 2012
- Nomination, Gopo Awards, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Cristi Puiu), 2012
- Nomination, Gopo Awards, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Catrinel Dumitrescu), 2012
- Nomination, Gopo Awards, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Valeria Seciu), 2012
- Nomination, Gopo Awards, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Valentin Popescu), 2012
- Nomination, Gopo Awards, Best Cinematography (Viorel Sergovici), 2012
- Crystal Globe Award, Best Cinematography (Viorel Sergovici, Mandragora), Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 2010
- East of West Award (Cristi Puiu), Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 2010
- Award of the Federal Foreign Office – Honorable Mention (Cristi Puiu), Wiesbaden goEast 2011
Articles:
- Aurora, de Jay Weissberg – variety.com
- Aurora, de Lee Marshall – screendaily.com
- Cristi Puiu and Aurora, de Călin Căliman – istoriafilmuluiromanesc.ro
- Following in the Shadows of a Very Shadowy Man, de Manohla Dargis – nytimes.com
- Cristi Puiu’s Aurora, de Amy Taubin – artforum.com
- Cristi Puiu Discusses Aurora, de Rob White – filmquarterly.org
- Aura şi Aurora, de Cristian Tudor Popescu – aarc.ro
- New Realism? Cristi Puiu’s Aurora (2010), de Konstanty Kuzma – eefb.org
- Aurora: Marea provocare, de Sebastian M. Ceolca – filmsinframe.com
- Expresivitate minimalistă – Jocul lui Cristi Puiu în Aurora, de Flavia Dima – agenda.liternet.ro
- Țapul ispășitor, de Cristian Lupșa – dor.ro
- ‘Aurora’: A Killer’s Progress, In Real Time, de Mark Jenkins – npr.org
- Aurora by Cristi Puiu in Un Certain Regard – festival-cannes.com
- Aurora, de Birchenough – theartsdesk.com
- Aurora, de Matt Connoly – reversehot.org
