On the silver screen: Upcoming Romanian film premieres

At the beginning of 2023, Romanian cinema reached a new milestone, as “Teambuilding”

(d. Matei Dima) attracted over 1 million cinemagoers. From highly promoted Romanian comedies to art movies that first go to international festivals, BR takes a look at what’s worth seeing in cinemas in the coming months.

By Oana Vasiliu

“TAXIMETRISTI”

(D. BOGDAN THEODOR OLTEANU)

Currently in cinemas

“Taximetristi” tells the story of Lica and Liviu, two taxi drivers who, in the course of a single night, cross paths with all kinds of clients who end up unexpectedly having an impact on their lives, for better or worse.

The film is a screen adaptation of the 2018 play of the same name, and the cast includes Alexandru Ion, Ronaldo Matsangos, Maria Popistasu, Victoria Raileanu, Monica Barladeanu, Andi Vasluianu, and Cosmin

Nedelcu (Micutzu), with special guests Adrian Nicolae and rapper Spike.

“RAMON” (D. JESÚS DEL CERRO)

Premiere: February 3

The film is full of adventures and a lot of humour, centred around main character Ramon, a simple and good man who finds himself in exceptional situations, to which he doesn’t know how to react. The unpredictability of these situations takes viewers through a carousel of events and emotions, with hilarious and spectacular scenes and a totally unexpected ending.

The cast includes Pavel Bartos, Smiley, Andreea Vasile, Alexandru Ion, Elvira Deatcu, Andreea Esca, Selly, Carmen Tanase, Ionu Rusu, Teona Stavarachi, Iulian Postelnicu, and others.

“MAMMALIA” (D. SEBASTIAN MIHAILESCU)

Premiere: at the Berlinale Film Festival

Surrealist drama Mammalia, directed by Sebastian Mihailescu, was selected for the Forum section of the 73rd edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, which will take place February 16-26, 2023. The film follows Camil, a 39-year-old man who embarks on a dreamlike journey where the mundane and the fantastic intertwine. Having lost control over his job, social status, and romantic relationship, he ventures on a quest that makes him question his identity and masculinity.

The cast includes István Téglás, Malina Manovici, Denisa Nicolae, Steliana Balacianu, Rolando Matsangos, Mirela Cretan, Andreea Gheorghe, Mircea Bujoreanu, Marian Pirvu, Dan Zarug Mihai, and Elena Chingalata.

"BETWEEN REVOLUTIONS" (D. VLAD PETRI)

World premiere: at the Berlinale Film Festival

The film features a semi-fictional correspondence between two women who meet at university in Romania. One of them goes to Iran in 1979 to overthrow the Shah, while the other lives through the difficult years of Ceaușescu's Romania. Divided by two revolutions, their words describe women struggling to be heard, countries moving in different directions, and two souls united in their longing for each other.

“LIBERTATE” (D. TUDOR GIURGIU)

Premiere: March 17

The film presents real but lesser-known events of the Romanian revolution of December 1989. In the chaos and panic generated by the crowd’s protest against the authorities, a militia unit in Sibiu becomes the target of a violent assault that degenerates into a bloody confrontation between soldiers, militiamen, security guards, and civilians.

The cast brings together Catalin Herlo, Iulian Postelnicu, Alexandru Papadopol, Andi Vasluianu, and Mirela Oprisor, alongside actors Adrian Matioc, Ali Deac, Cendana Trifan, Marius Turdeanu, and many others.

“BOSS” (D. BOGDAN MIRICA)

Premiere: April 21

The screenplay focuses on Bogdan (Laurentiu Banescu), a meticulous ambulance driver working in poverty-stricken Bucharest, who takes part in an armed robbery together with three men he barely knows. As the robbery ends in disaster, Bogdan starts a thorough, almost compulsive investigation to dig up the true identities of his accomplices, but the more he discovers, the deeper he sinks into a spiral of fear and paranoia. Cast also includes Ioana Bugarin, Sergiu Costache, Teodor Corban, Cosmina Stratan, Cuzin Toma, Mimi Branescu, and Diana Cavallioti.