Death of Mr Lazarescu, The

Romania 2005, 154 minutes
Dir. Cristi Puiu
In Romanian with English subtitles
Rating: [M]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Drama / Black Comedy

Topics: Health & Medicine.

Feat. Ion Fiscuteanu, Luminita Gheorghiu

Aroview: Whirling, labyrinthine black comedy follows with interest the Kafkaesque plight of an ailing elderly drunk, whose stomach pains are met with skepticism and indifference by neighbors and paramedics alike.

A masterful juggling act, dir. Puiu balances vérité chaos, deathly humour, and a critique of modern medical dysfunction with remarkable dexterity and control. By turns hellish and hilarious, this novel tragedy with comic overtones is bound to resonate with survivors of the public health system.

NZ International Film Festival 2006