Posted November 17, 2015
Laugh, Cry, Think!
By Dotty Battel, JBFC Volunteer
These are just a few of the responses you will have to the films in this 10th anniversary edition of Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema, Dec. 3-8. The series, hailed by The New York Times as an “annual treasure,” showcases a rich and varied selection of the finest contemporary Romanian filmmaking, including features, documentaries, and shorts, as well as some old favorites. “The central European nation’s recent contributions to the world of film have been good or great with almost alarming frequency.” (The Village Voice) Here are three highlights:
Opening Night with Reception: Thursday, Dec. 3, 7:30
Microphone Test: Anchored in reality but showcasing a mordant dark humor and unrelenting satire, this 1980 classic filmed under communist rule by Mircea Daneliuc, one of Romania’s greatest filmmakers, is not to be missed.
Q&A with filmmaker Mircea Daneliuc (who will also introduce the film) and series curator Mihai Chirilov, followed by one of our delightful receptions in the Jane Peck gallery.
Why Me?: Sunday, Dec. 6, 5:00
“Kafka comes to post-Communist Romania” (The Hollywood Reporter) in this legal thriller based on a real-life case of political corruption. You’ll get the idea when you watch the trailer, below.
Q&A with filmmaker Tudor Giurgiu and actor Mihai Constantin
Closing Night: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7:40
Aferim!: Laced with bawdy humor and classic Western elements, the film dramatizes the prickly subject of gypsy slavery that flourished in Romania for centuries (and was only finally abolished in 1956). This historical drama won Radu Jude the Best Director prize in Berlin and is Romania’s entry in this year’s foreign-language film Oscar category.
Q&A with producer Ada Solomon
Please visit our series page for a full list of films and events and to purchase tickets!
