12:08 East of Bucharest [2006]
12:08 East of Bucharest is a satirical and bitterly funny look at one of Romania’s most historic moments – the violent overthrow of Nicolae Ceausescu. The movie, though, isn’t a historical fact-based documentation; rather, it is a mordant look at how the present rarely keeps track of the past, however important might they be insofar as the country’s historical determination is concerned. On the occasion of the sixteenth anniversary of the fall of the dictator, a small-time television channel owner attempts to find out whether the revolution ever took place at their town, with a Santa Claus dressing senile elderly man and a school teacher who is infamous in his community for his hard drinking, as the guests for the show. To make matters more ludicrous, every member, from the host and the guests to the dubious callers, have things other than the “revolution” on their minds. Filmed on a shoe-string budget and brilliantly enacted by the three protagonists, this is a movie that delights with its wry, deadpan humour and piercing insight. Though Ceausescu is a central theme for both, it hardly bears any resemblance to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days; yet in their unflinching realism, audacity and bravado, they both represent the unheralded glory of today’s Romanian cinema.
Director: Corneliu Porumboiu
Genre: Comedy/Social Satire/Political Satire/Farce/Slice of Life
Language: Romanian
Country: Romania
2 comments:
Just saw the film. Hilarious and relentless...
Like Forman's Fireman's Ball, this one goes out and out against the present politicians of the country (the two guests represent them I feel), show what media manipulation is and what its role was in creating the illusion of a revolution.
Brilliant that the camera never moves for most of the film as if these guys are trapped in their own mundane life and detached from politics; until the media tries to create drama with its zooms and shakes. The politicians keep making their shreds and paper boats claiming revolution as the media tries to gain from their fistfight...
Works on so many levels. I came across this by accident and I caguely remembered your post and caught on. no regrets whatsoever.
Great summation of the really wonderful movie. Such pinching yet immensely funny humour is really hard to come by - you laugh and yet you cringe.
All the 3 Romanian movies that i've seen has this immensely vivid realism - never afraid to capture reality with such glaring reality, and audacious enough to delve into the darker aspects of their history. Thats what differentiates between good art and moderate works - not just great ability, but also an unmatched fearlessness to tread roads that aren't the most beautiful to look at.
You've made really fine observations about the movie. Thanks again for your comments.
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