Romanian Film Fest Arizona 2023
THE ROMANIAN FILM FESTIVAL, 3rd EDITION: “One Eye Laughing, One Eye Crying”
WHEN: NOVEMBER 4-12, 2023
WHERE: Majestic Tempe 7, Nov 11-12 & Online Nov. 4-12
The name of the third edition of the Romanian Film Fest Arizona, “One Eye Laughing. One Eye Crying,” celebrates Romanians’ capacity to laugh, oftentimes sarcastically, in the midst of hardships.
The festival is made possible in part by generous support from the Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian & East European Studies at Arizona State University
This project is partially funded by a City of Tempe – Community Arts Grant.
November 11-12 @ Majestic Tempe 7
- E Pericoloso Sporgersi (104 min), November 11, 4:30 PM
- Taxi Drivers (97 min), November 11, 7:30 PM
- Between Revolutions (68 min), November 12, 4:30 PM
- Men of Deeds (105 min), November 12, 7:00 PM
November 4-12 Virtual program
![E PERICOLOSO SPORGERSI [AKA Sundays on Leave]](https://azarcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/E-Pericoloso-Sporgersi-poster.jpg)
E PERICOLOSO SPORGERSI [AKA Sundays on Leave]
NR 104 min.
Drama/Comedy (1993). Critics Award, Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival, 1993
This is a restored version of the debut feature of Nae Caranfil (known for Closer to the Moon), thirty years after its premiere in Cannes. During the last years of communist Romania, Cristina is having a difficult time with her boyfriend. He wants her to have sex with him before his mandatory stint in the army. She wants him to marry her first. He has some vague plans to defect – could those be the reason he is receiving mysterious phone calls? Or are they the work of an anonymous admirer?
Original Language: Romanian. With English Subtitles.
Directed by Nae Caranfil. Cast: Nathalie Bonnifay, Costel Cascaval, George Alexandru, Marius Stanescu, Coca Bloos, Florin Calinescu, Marius Florea
TAXI DRIVERS
NR 97 min.
Comedy/Drama (2023). Lică, a taxi driver, is an all knowing guy, while Liviu, his friend, also a taxi driver, keeps a lot to himself. They are trying to rediscover who they are and what they can do with their life while being on an ongoing adventure on the streets of Bucharest where they cross paths with all kinds of clients who end up having an impact on their lives, for better and for worse.
Original Language: Romanian. With English Subtitles.
Directed by Bogdan Theodor Olteanu. Cast: Alexandru Ion, Rolando Matsangos, Maria Popistașu, Monica Bârlădeanu, Andi Vasluianu, Ioana Bugarin, Cosmin Nedelcu
BETWEEN REVOLUTIONS
NR 68 min.
Documentary (2023). Berlinale Fipresci Award (Forum), 2023
In 1970s Bucharest, Zahra and Maria formed a deep friendship while studying at university. As political turmoil brews in Iran, Zahra is forced to return home, leaving Maria behind. Over the next decade, they maintain their connection through a series of letters, chronicling their struggles as women fighting for a voice in their respective countries moving in divergent directions. From the director’s statement: “It is a hybrid film that mixes archives and real documents with fictional elements (…). The text of the letters is inspired by archives from the Secret Police and by the poems of two important female writers from Romania and Iran – Nina Cassian and Forugh Farrokhzad and is written by one of the most talented Romanian contemporary writers – Lavinia Braniște.”
Original Language: Romanian. With English Subtitles.
Directed by Vlad Petri. Cast: Victoria Stoiciu, Ilinca Hărnuț
MEN OF DEEDS
NR 105 min.
Comedy/Drama (2022). Best Feature, Best Actor, Gopo Awards, 2023.
Ilie (late 30s) enjoys the easy life of a village policeman. His passivity during a series of violent events soon turns him into an accomplice to murder. Tension accumulates in the village, forcing Ilie to make a final decision.
Original Language: Romanian. With English Subtitles.
Directed by Paul Negoescu. Cast: Iulian Postelnicu, Vasile Muraru, Vitalie Bichir