| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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| Visuals: |
A |
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A great, memorable, timely, masterpiece
by Chris R (movies profile)
May 10, 2008
13
of
12 people found this review helpful
The acting and direction in the movie is outstanding. There are scenes in this movie that are genius.
Ironically Bebe's name means Baby or Babe, a rather common nickname among Romanian males. He is the wicked sleazy black market abortionist.
The pieces of the story constructed and leading up to the meeting Bebe are excellent, rare and contain scenes and acting never done before.
I loved the birthday scene at the table. Marinca is an Oscar-worthy actress. Its almost sad to think that a great artist such as she or the director Mungiu will not be nominated, but that is how it works. This movie brings the horrifying reality to the screen so we uncomfortably squirm in our seats. There are no jokes, no asides, no sarcastic remarks. Nobody just takes it in stride. Instead you see the consequences of very bad decisions, of lack of foresight, of innocence lost.
The friendship in this movie is powerful. It is the only thing that can stand against the oppression of Communism in 1980's Romania where totalitarianism has almost run its course but for the characters it is alive and well and affects them to the marrow.
Beautiful cinema that gives me hope great art can still happen, great movies are still possible.
I loved the little things in this movie that describe what is being criticized, these are shown not told. The hotel scene where the women sit to have dinner for example. The waiter is bringing them a rich menu from next door where there is a wedding. It is obvious, the waiter is making money on the side, stealing this food paid for by the wedding and charging the two friends for it, money he will later pocket.
I loved the lack of attention or any apparent will at customer service as Otilia goes searching for a hotel room. Brilliantly, the Director unfolds the story, so you don't quite know what the room is for, but you sense a reluctance and bottled tension in the characters.
For a moment you think Bebe is a great guy, who will risk his life, an anti-hero if you will, to save the women.
The reality of what women faced in this country becomes evident during the birthday party of Otilia's boyfriends' mother. The remarks are obvious, again, shown not told. It is rude for women to smoke in front of elders. As far as sex, it cannnot even be talked about too openly, Otilia's boyfriend is too ashamed to talk of the things he does to her and yet she begins to realize how these will affect her, and what the consequences are, she has just seen them.
I cannot say enough about the film, great stuff! |
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