Youth Without Youth (2007)

Writer and Director Francis Ford Coppola uses his fame and money to put produce a film that perhaps only he can understand.

When an elderly Romanian professor is struck by lightning and survives only to become young again, but retaining all of his prior knowledge, people take note (especially Nazis who are after the secret of perpetual youth). As he no longer ages, he devotes himself to learning languages and science better than anyone else. A woman joins him on his quest as she experiences trances that bring her closer and closer to the dawn of humanity.

The story is very convoluted and some of the only redeeming factors are the great acting from Tim Roth and the hope that something will be explained in the end.

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4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (2007)

Winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days is a stark look at abortion behind the iron curtain in Romania circa 1987.

A university student seeks the help of her roommate in order to get an abortion. Having and performing abortions can earn you a prison term in Romania at this time and so everything must be done in stealth and secrecy. We are exposed to a high level of tension as the abortionist extorts his clients and as the abortion occurs.

Stylistically, it is identical to L'Enfant, a French Palme d'Or winner from a few years back. Long hand held shots coupled with long stationary camera shots. This style gives the film a very realistic feel and allows the actors to act off camera and for scenes to continue uninterrupted.

Without any kind of lecturing from the director or writer, viewers are given a full on look at the issue of both illegal and mid-term abortions. This is not an enjoyable film, but it is superbly made and has a lot to say to everyone who has an opinion on the issue.

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A fost sau n-a fost? (2006)

12:08 East of Bucharest is a clever and satirical look at how people view themselves in history.

A drunken history professor finds himself the spokesman on a local cable show for the people of a small city in Romania where the first steps were taken in the final stage of the coup/uprising against Ceauşescu in 1989. The question posed is whether or not the people of Romania participated in a revolution or whether it was a military coup. Of course the people would like to believe that they were a driving force behind deposing the tyrant, but do the facts support it?

The film is very entertaining and loaded with colourful characters. One scene in particular is memorable with kids playing music in a small recording studio.

IMDB

Binecuvântata fii, închisoare (2002)

I saw this powerful film for the first time at the Montreal World Film Festival when it premiered in North America back in 2003. It stuck in my mind so much that I added it to my Zip.ca list to see it again.

Bless You Prison begins the true story of Nicole Valery-Grossu as she was brought into jail to be interrogated in communist Romania. She ends up in solitary confinement and being tortured before being sent to a work camp. During her first week in prison, she rediscovers psalms she learned as a child and begins a relationship with God. Her survival and hope is attributed to this relationship. She becomes a shining light to her fellow prisoners who have lost all hope.

The film is beautifully made, though clearly made on a small budget.

IMDB