More Detailed Programme of Festival

The countdown to the Festival has begun! Make sure you buy your tickets either in person at the Curzon Mayfair, online at www.curzoncinemas.com or by phone at 0871 7033 989.

Here's a more detailed description of the films that will be shown during the Festival (the original Romanian title is in brackets):

FRIDAY 1 MAY 6.20PM
Opening Film: SILENT WEDDING (Nunta Muta)
plus Q&A
Director: Horatiu Malaele
Cast: Meda Andreea Victor, Victor Rebengiuc, Alexandru Potocean / Romania 2008 / 87 mins
A rural wedding celebration gets disturbed by Stalin’s death, but the villagers are not easily defeated. A story about resistance during harsh Communist times, told in a fairytale style.

SATURDAY 2 MAY 2.00PM
HOOKED (Pescuit Sportiv)
plus introduction
Director: Adrian Sitaru
Cast: Maria Dinulescu, Ioana Flora, Adrian Titieni / Romania/France 2008 / 80 mins
Having set out for a trip in the countryside, secret lovers Mihai and Miha hit prostitute Ana in a roadside accident. Awakening unscathed, Ana decides to accompany them to their picnic…

Screening with: WAVES (Valuri)
Director: Adrian Sitaru / Romania 2007 / 16 mins
A day on the beach takes a dark turn under the bright sunshine.

SATURDAY 2 MAY 4.00PM
THE OTHER IRENE (Cealalta Irina)
plus Q&A
Director: Andrei Gruzsniczki
Cast: Andi Vasluianu, Doru Ana, Gabriel Spahiu / Romania 2008 / 90 mins
Sharing similar grounds with some of the finest European thrillers, The Other Irene is based on a real story, uncovering a political and bureaucratic landscape that is truly eerie to watch.

SATURDAY 2 MAY 6.15PM

CONSTANTIN AND ELENA (Constantin si Elena)
plus Q&A
Director: Andrei Dascalescu / Romania 2008 / 103 mins
This multi-award winning documentary follows Constantin and Elena who’ve been married for 55 years in a rural village. A reflection on life, dying traditions and a heartfelt story of two very loving, artistic and wise people.

SATURDAY 2 MAY 8.45PM

EXCHANGE (Schimb Valutar)
plus Q&A
Director: Nicolae Margineanu
Cast: Cosmin Selesi, Aliona Munteanu, Andi Vasluianu / Romania 2008 / 98 mins
Having lost his job, Emil’s life soon spirals out of control and he decides to try his luck in Bucharest. Here, bank notes travel from thief to thug and the tragedy caused by this circle of events is the Romanian answer to Robert Bresson’s L’Argent.

SUNDAY 3 MAY 2.00PM
ROMANIAN SHORTS PROGRAMME plus introduction

TIGER DANNY (Danut Pleaca pe Vapor)
Director: Radu Potcoava / Romania 2008 / 27 mins
Tiger Danny is about to spend a working year in the US but getting out of Bucharest is not that easy.

YELLOW SMILEY FACE (Fata Galbena care Rade)
Director: Constantin Popescu / Romania 2008 / 14 mins
Two computer illiterate parents in their early 50s have to learn how to use Skype in order to communicate with their son, who studies abroad.

ALEXANDRA (Alexandra)
Director. Radu Jude / Romania 2007 / 25 mins
A single father tries to maintain a relationship with his daughter, despite the hateful ex-wife and her new man.

WATER (Apa)
Director: Constantin Popescu / Romania, 2007 / 33 mins
During World War II, some soldiers are stuck in a trench in the scorching heat with a pond of ice cool water separating them from their opponents.

SUNDAY 3 MAY 4.00PM

MOROMETII
plus Q&A
Director: Stere Gulea
Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Luminita Gheorghiu, Gina Patrichi / Romania 1988 / 142 mins
Morometii, based on a modern classic of Romanian literature by Marin Preda, follows the life of Ilie Moromete, the archetype of the Romanian peasant. Ilie faces constant problems: his sister's nagging, the taxes and the work in the fields whilst his sons, almost grown-up, are now showing signs of rebellion.

SUNDAY 3 MAY 7.00PM

ELEVATOR plus introduction
Director. George Dorobantu
Cast: Cristi Petrescu, Iulia Verdes / Romania 2008 / 85 mins
Imagine being young, and fancying your schoolmate a little: where would you go if you wanted to be alone for a while? Inside a lift in an abandoned factory, on the outskirts of your hometown, perhaps?

MONDAY 4 MAY 6.30PM

WEEKEND WITH MY MOTHER (Weekend cu Mama)
plus Q&A
Director. Stere Gulea
Cast: Adela Popescu, Medeea Marinescu, Tudor Aaron Istodor / Romania 2009 / 90 mins
Stere Gulea’s latest film is a contemporary drama about migration and addiction, with all the ingredients that made Trainspotting so much of its time. Yet it has the quality of Romanian filmmaking, with depth and contemporary issues at its heart.