I was both thrilled and surprised to hear that this year's Golden Bear went to Romanian director, Calin Peter Netzer for his psychological drama, Child's Pose/Pozitia Copilului (2013). The reason why I was thrilled, was because there has been a slight dry spell in the way of New Romanian Cinema for the past year or so. Since, Cristi Puiu's Stuff and Dough/Marfa si Banii (2001), Romanian filmmakers have been producing only the highest quality cinema for which they have received an abundance of international recognition and awards. However, there weren't as many films released throughout 2012 compared to the years prior, and it's starting to make us film enthusiasts a little nervous. It is difficult to ignore the menacing fact that New Romanian Cinema might just as well break apart as quickly as it broke through. This is why I was thrilled to read about the the latest Romanian cinema triumph and only hope to witness its continuing growth from this point onwards.
Now to the matter of my surprise. I was swept away when I saw Netzer's second feature film Medal of Honor/Medalia de Onoare (2009) particularly because it combines the dismal traits of a post-communist Romanian society with a sense of comedy and human sensitivity. But not much followed after it's release in the lines of critical reviews and academic papers. So it was a pleasant surprise (maybe mixed with a bit of astonishment) to receive my first Google alert in months, on Netzer's well-deserved feat. Maybe I should be the first critic to examine his vital contribution to New Romanian Cinema.
A film review and plot outline will be published on this site soon. In the meantime, here is an amazing still from the film - the one and only Luminita Gheorghiu aka. one of the most outstanding actresses, well, in the world.
