ICR Romanian Cultural Institute London

Reenactment @ Romanian Cinematheque

       

Romania | 1968 | b&w | 100min | dir. Lucian Pintilie| cast: George Constantin, Emil Botta, George Mihaita, Vladimir Gaitan, Ernest Maftei, Ileana Popovici, Nicky Wolcz, Stefan Moisescu
In Romanian with English subtitles.

Special screening: the 40th anniversary of Lucian Pintilie's iconic film since its premiere in Bucharest. Followed by discussion with acclaimed actors Vladimir Gaitan and George Mihaita.

Ripu and Vuica are students who celebrate one evening by drinking too much. They attack the bar owner and break a window. Days later a policeman, a judge, and a film crew take them to the crime scene-instead of spending time in jail, they will work as actors in a state-sponsored documentary about alcoholism. In the course of the fictional filming, the youngsters experience very keenly their real feelings about their lives and the society they live in.

Reenactment was Ceausescu's worst nightmare. After several screenings and without having had an official premiere, the film was banned because, according to one critic, "It was dominated by a sense of the tragic...and nourished by a profound civil and cultural awareness".

In my opinion Reenactment is the best movie in the history of the Romanian cinema. I think this movie had a huge influence on my generation.
Corneliu Porumboiu, Camera d'Or winner 2006 and Jury's Prize - Un Certain Regard 2009.

I consider that the shock of 'Reenactment' is a vital, regenerating one, that it is the prelude for other shocks, which will replace a cinema of mystification by a cinema fanatically faithful to the truth.
Lucian Pintilie

Reenactment is part of the Romanian Cinematheque, a year-round programme that brings the best Romanian films to London.
Click here for May - July 2010 programme (Word file).

Partners: the National Centre for Cinematography in Romania (CNC)

When: 15 April 2010, 7.00 pm;
Where: Romanian Cultural Institute London.
Free entrance. To attend please email office@icr-london.co.uk or call 0207 752 0134.
Early booking recommended.