striking and terrifying film of an old man's quest for emergency medical care at night in Bucharest.
A 63-yr. old very powerfully built man is stricken with such debilitating pain in his head and stomach that he cannot endure it. After a seemingly interminable fight, he convinces the ambulance service that he seriously is ill.
From there, the real problems begin as a major disaster has flooded the hospitals before his arrival.
Several reviews and the cover itself speak of this film as a comedy: If so, then the crucifixion of Christ must have struck those morons as high comedy, as well.
This film, were it not for the indomitable human spirit which it chronicles, would be all but unwatchable because of the common indifference shown to the character's severe pain and suffering. Yet throughout his ordeal, one woman, a complete stranger, indefatigably tries to help him.
The film is made with such consummate skill that at no time does one feel this is fiction: it has the realism of a well-made documentary.
There are several great films about aging and the inescapable horrors of sickness but none combine them in such a stark, brutal, and affective manner.
With this effort, Romanian director Puiu vaults to the upper rank of his profession.
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Topic - "The Death of Mr. Lavarescu:" from Romania comes this - tinear 15:40:49 10/20/06 (5)
- Did you see Polish "Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease"? - Victor Khomenko 15:49:04 10/20/06 (4)
- Oh great, yet another to my Netflix list already which is longer than Stalin's purge list. nt - tinear 17:56:38 10/20/06 (3)
- So many movies, so few eyeballs . . . * - mr grits 21:13:28 10/21/06 (0)
- Life's a bitch... - Victor Khomenko 07:37:49 10/21/06 (1)
- Agreed. Flying is so much easier with an entertaining film. nt - tinear 07:31:21 10/22/06 (0)