DVD
REVIEW: 12:08 EAST OF BUCHAREST

10/08/07

To create an intelligent
and intellectual comedy, sometimes all that is needed is a
good idea. That’s what Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu
delivers in 12:08 East Of Bucharest. A film scripted,
directed and produced by him, winner of the Camera d’Or at
the Cannes International Film Festival.
“12:08 East Of Bucharest” takes place 16 years after the
Revolution that took Rumania out of the communism. When the
owner and anchorman (Mircea Andreescu) of a local television
station in a little town east of Bucharest, to commemorate
the anniversary of the Revolution invites a couple of guest
to share their views on what happen in their little town
on December 22 1989. This was the date when Romanian
dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife fled the
presidential palace by helicopter. One of the guest is an
alcoholic history teacher (Ion Sapdaru) that is in debt with
the entire town and the other a lonely retiree (Teodor
Corban) that doesn't know much about anything. Between the
guests and calls from the viewers, they will relive a memoir
of events that happened in their town city hall minutes
before the Revolution.
Director Corneliu Porumboiu's presentation of the film is
intellectual and realistic. From the chats in the TV show to
the car scene through the streets of this little town
transports the audience to this country exposing the bare
humanistic idiosyncratic of the time and place. It is
this aspect of this movie along with the mystery behind what
was in the mind of a Romanian during this Revolution what
makes this film eccentric. Taking such a serious topic
and twisting it with cleverness and humor takes much skill
as a director. But Porumboiu's talent doesn't stop
there, knowing exactly when to use the static camera
shoots was a perfect touch giving much realism to this film.
Furthermore, his casting was outstanding, Teodor Corban and
Ion Sapdaru in the roles of TV show guest were just simply
funny. With this film Corneliu Porumboiu has to be
added to the new wave of Romanian directors.
VIDEO:
Anamorphic Widescreen
AUDIO:
Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround - Romanian
Subtitles - English, Spanish,
BONUS FEATURES:
Director Commentary
RATING BREAK DOWN:
MOVIE REVIEW |
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VIDEO |
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AUDIO |
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BONUS
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Review
By Jen
jen@smartcine.com
People Movie Review 12:08
East of Bucharest
Cristina |
100 |
One of the best films i have seen for a
good while. it takes a real talent to
maintain the equilibrium between the
past and the present and Porumboiu has
this talent. his film is not just
absolutely hilarious but equally sad. i
loved and breathed every scene in it.
the central scene of the film - the tv
show - is ironically realised by the
means of the still camera. the close ups
and the medium close frames where
juxtaposed in a way that best rendered
the idea of memory loss, panic and
personal memory of what seemed
historical moments. The orchestra in the
set that tries to sing a spanish songs
and then a Romanian one is absolutely
brilliant; the Chinese guy that sells
fireworks is really gorgeous as the self
imposed image of the other. |
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