Bordering between drama and satire, Paul Negoescu's new film seems to have no obvious counterpart in the local cinematic tradition. This probably comes from Paul's directorial personality, simultaneously playful and solemn, funny and serious. Men of Deeds talks about a lot of things, but not about nice people, it seems. They're simply not to be found. The story is full of petty, lying, duplicitous people, because that's what Romania seems to be - a failed state? Maybe. A corrupt village? Absolutely.
Ilie (Iulian Postelnicu) is a policeman and has a dream: to own his orchard, to have his thing. The web of entanglements, petty corruption, border smuggling has become the norm here. How long can it last? Long and well, if everyone stays happy. The authority figures - priest, mayor, policeman, the three pillars - complement each other. They work together not for the good of the community - where various forms of abuse are flourishing - but rather for their own well-being. But caught in the middle of a situation that is already too far out of line for his moral health, Ilie seems unable to accept what is happening under his nose. All the little gifts for the community's bigwigs, all the sentimental manipulation, he just can't take it anymore. What triggers in him this surprising reaction against the tide? A woman? Conscience? The fact that he belongs to a generation slightly younger than those who have wronged him? The new fellow rookie bullied beyond all limits? The story doesn't focus on anything in particular, but leaves it to us to construct our own version of the truth, our own version of what will actually trigger change...
Tuesday, June 13, 19:30: Cinema Mărăști - Special screening for those visually impaired
Friday, June 16, 15:15: Military Circle
Saturday, June 17, 18:00: Cinema Dacia Mănăștur