Reenactment

  • Lucian Pintilie
  • Romania
  • 1968
  • 106'
  • Reconstituirea

Two friends, having had a glass too much, start a tavern brawl, breaking some glasses and the waiter’s head. They are pressured by the authorities to reenact their fight in front of the camera for an “educational” film about the dangers of alcohol. The inept state functionaries directing the film have no idea what they’re doing and the crew botches take after take, forcing the young men to fight all afternoon. Beginning as a comedy but ending as a bitter critique of communist oppression, the film caught the eye of Ceauşescu’s regime: it was banned and the director prohibited from filming in Romania for a decade. Reenactment has been a major influence on Romanian new wave filmmakers.

Subtitles: HR

Lucian Pintilie

Born in 1933. He stems from a cosmopolitan, tolerant community, which is reflected in his work that criticizes but also raises hope in “what could be”. Due to frequent bans, he spent a lot of time abroad.

Reenactment

Director
Lucian Pintilie
Screenplay
Lucian Pintilie, Horia Pătraşcu
Cast
George Constantin, Emil Botta, George Mihăiţă, Vladimir Găitan, Ernest Maftei, Ileana Popovici, Nicolae Wolcz
DOP
Sergiu Huzum
Editing
Eugenia Naghi
Producer
Mihai Opriș
Production
Filmstudio Bucureşti
Festivals & Awards
Cannes Film Festival – Directors' Fortnight 1970