5 BEST ROMANIAN MOVIES

Nowadays, Romanian cinematography is winning more and more awards at European film festivals, gaining recognition among eminent critics. However, they don't have a large budget and shouldn't be compared with films made in Hollywood. Romanian films fit more into the realm of realism, often using historical or current topics specific to Romania. For this reason, I will try to present you a subjective list of 5 Romanian movies that everyone should watch. Let's start then!

1) 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007), Cristian Mungiu
This is probably one of the most popular Romanian films that won the Palme d'Or in Cannes.  Mungiu shows in a bold way how the main character  tries to have an abortion, which was illegal during the communist ere and was often practiced by individuals in exchange for considerable sums of money. The subject of the film is very timely, especially in view of the recent events in Poland.

2) Sieranevada (2016), Cristi Puiu
Sieranevada is a bitter picture of Romania and Romanians after the transformations of 1989, directed by Cristi Puiu. The funeral of one of the family members turns into a very detailed analysis which calls for reflection on life and death. The director presents a family conflict between the old generation and the new one, making us realize how little has changed sometimes.

3) Malmkrog (2020), Cristi Puiu
Another movie by Cristi Puiu that is worth watching is Malmkrog, a philosophical costume film, inspired by the Russian novel by Vladimir Soloviev. The action takes place at the end of the 19th century in Romania where a group of aristocrats meets in a Transylvanian court in the provinces to discuss the state of Europe, God, Christianity, morality and war. Extremely addictive yet challenging movie – just like in the case of Sieranevada, Malmkrog by Cristi Puiu lasts around 3 hours.

4) Bacalaureat (2016), Cristian Mungiu
The film tells the story of Eliza, a senior high school student, who is attacked shortly before her matriculation examination. Deeply traumatized by this, she has difficulty taking the exam and his father is looking for a solution to the situation as she needs a high average to apply to the foreign university. In this case, Puiu shows and reveals the shortcomings of the Romanian system.

5) Child's Pose (2013), Călin Peter Netzer
Child's Pose by Călin Peter Netzer is the last movie to close today's list. This is the story of a mother who is desperately trying to save her son who caused a car accident. It shows not only the history and strength of motherly love, but also a complex and brutal picture of contemporary Romania.

I hope the above films will encourage you to discover Romanian cinema!