The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)

Mr. Lãzãrescu, a dying old man, is shuttled from hospital to hospital by a loyal paramedic as doctors refuse to operate and no one can agree on a diagnosis.

Director:

Cristi Puiu

Writers:

Cristi Puiu, Razvan Radulescu

Stars:

Doru Ana, Monica Barladeanu, Alina Berzunteanu

29 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Doru Ana	...	Sandu Sterian
Monica Barladeanu	...	Mariana
Alina Berzunteanu	...	Dr. Zamfir
Dorian Boguta	...	Ambulantier (as Doru Boguta)
Mimi Branescu	...	Dr. Mirica
Mihai Bratila	...	Dr. Breslasu
Dragos Bucur	...	Misu
Robert Bumbes	...	Robert
Dan Chiriac	...	Medic triaj Spitalui Universitar
Mirela Cioaba	...	Marioara
Laura Cret	...	Medic ecograf, Spitalui Sf. Spiridon
Dana Dogaru	...	Mihaela Sterian
Bogdan Dumitrache	...	Medic, Spitalui Sf. Spiridon
Alexandru Fifea	...	Brancardier, Spitalui Sf. Spiridon
Ion Fiscuteanu	...	Mr. Lazarescu (Domnui Lazarescu) (as Ioan Fiscuteanu)

Storyline

Mr. Lazarescu, a 63 year old lonely man feels sick and calls the ambulance. When it arrives, the paramedic decides he should take him to the hospital but once there they decide to send him to another hospital and then yet another... As the night unfolds and they can't find a hospital for Mr. Lazarescu, his health starts to deteriorate fast.

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Plot Keywords:

illness | black comedy | hospital | sick | paramedic | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief nudity

Details

Country:

Romania

Language:

Romanian

Release Date:

22 September 2005 (Romania)

Also Known As:

The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,880, 30 April 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$79,943, 24 September 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandragora

Technical Specs

Runtime:

153 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main character's full name is Dante Remus Lazarescu. It has multiple connotations and possible meanings: Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote in his "Divine Comedy" of the circles of hell. Remus was a co-founder of ancient Rome, killed by his twin. 'Lazarescu' reminds us of the biblical character Lazarus, who was lucky enough to find someone who could raise him from the dead. At the same time, 'Lazarescu' is a very common surname in Romania. The second forename 'Remus' is not quite as common, but does exist in Romania. Only the Italian forename Dante is rather unusual for Romania.

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Connections

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006)

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Soundtracks

Cum e oare?
Written by Madeleine Fortunescu and Florin Bogardo
Performed by Margareta Pâslaru

User Reviews

This is not a movie about an ex 2nd world country

I just want to respond the first comment (or at least the comment marked as "most useful"), saying that this is not a movie about reality on a post-Comunist country. This is a movie about reality in countries that don't belong to the first Word. I come from Argentina, and my country has never been run as a communist country. Every president we had might have had politics different than other countries, but certainly, never even *near* communism. And that *happens*. It happens *every single day*. Do you know why I didn't enjoyed that movie? Because I couldn't stop thinking that at least half of the population in my country has no chance but to assist to public hospitals and suffer that luck *every day*. I'm lucky I belong to a middle class that can afford private hospitals, but as I see on the news, people go to hospitals at five in the morning to ask for an appointment with a doctor. And I see how doctors who work at public hospitals are frustrated when they can't help their patients because hospital doesn't have the appropriate equipment. It's really sad. It's not post-communism. It's reality at third word countries (and third word doesn't always mean we are from the African country where they are all starving, cause we are doing just fine. We're not that bad.) And the reason these countries have this issues is because, well, like you've seen our economy minister saying it on TV, the big boys are trying to keep us down.

I do hope that The Death of Mr. Lazarescu has changed something in our head. It's not just a movie, It's almost a documentary... Because i can assure you that is a real story. Not a reality show, a real story.