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

30 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

illness | black comedy | bucharest romania | hospital | sick | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is the first in a series of 6 feature-length films that Cristi Puiu will direct, entitled "Stories From the Suburbs of Bucharest".

---

Quotes

Marioara: I'm ready Virgil, come get him and take him to Anghel!

---

Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Cinema Today and the Future (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Chemarea marii
("Si-n apa marii")
Performed by Margareta Pîslaru
Music by George Grigoriu
Lyrics by Mircea Block

User Reviews

as sad as life itself

This movie is certainly not a comedy as some reviews claimed. This is a documentary-like shot movie about being old, lonely and dying. Dehumanization and absence of compassion are also two of the themes treated here. The story is focused on the context of Romanian hospitals, but this could be generalized to most social systems globally, i think. And my own experience of old people dying in hospitals here in Belgium is of course not so awful, but somehow related to Mr. Lazarescu's experience. And even the nice characters, who really try to help, don't really change anything to the poor guy's fate. So this movie is really deeply pessimistic. In my opinion, it was also a bit too long (about 150 min.) and definitely not easy-watching. But interesting and thought-provoking (and a bit depressing too...)

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

Gross USA:

$80,301

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$216,922

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandragora

Technical Specs

Runtime:

153 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1