Images from Moartea Domnului Lazarescu (The Death Of Mr Lazarescu)
Select thumbnail for full image gallery.
Moartea Domnului Lazarescu (The Death Of Mr Lazarescu) (15)
- Consumer Advice: Contains strong language
- Run time: 2 hours 34 mins
- Language: Romanian
- Genre: Drama
- Release date: 14th July 2006
- Starring: Ion Fiscuteanu, Luminita Gheorghiu, Gabriel Spahiu
- Directed by: Cristi Puiu
- Distributor: Tartan Films
Plot Synopsis
Having already prompted comparisons with everyone from Cassavetes to Mike Leigh and Frederick Wiseman, this multiple award-winning second feature from Romanian director Cristi Puiu, which screened at both this year’s Toronto and Cannes Film Festival, winning the Prix Un Certain Regard, is undoubtedly one of the most affecting films of the year.
Mr Lazarescu is a 63-year-old widower who shares his apartment with his three cats. Suffering from pains in his head and his stomach, he calls for an ambulance, and whilst he's waiting he asks his neighbours for some pills. They try to help, though they disapprove of his drinking and the state of his flat. Finally the medics arrive to take him to hospital, an even more difficult task than usual as a bus accident has the local services at full stretch.
As the night wears on, Mr Lazarescu is shuttled from pillar to post, growing ever wearier and weaker in the face of the medical profession's bureaucracy and casual inefficiency. With colourful and recognisable characters the fundamental seriousness of the film's theme is judiciously leavened with a good deal of dry humour. THE DEATH OF MR. LAZARESCU is Cristi Puiu’s first chapter of a series of planned films entitled SIX STORIES FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF BUCHAREST, inspired in part by Eric Rohmer’s film cycles, and all relating to one aspect of love.