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

In Apa Marii
Music by George Grigoriu and lyrics by Mircea Block
Performed by Margareta Pîslaru (as Margareta Paslaru)

User Reviews

A stunning evocation of real-time medical hell

Shown at the New York and Chicago film festivals, October 2005. A Tartan Films release in the US, limited release scheduled for May 2006.

Puiu was inspired at nineteen by Jim Jarmusch's "Stanger Than Paradise" to become a filmmaker. He says "ER" is syndicated in Rumania: "When you watch the American show, there's movement in every direction, the choreography of the characters is amazing -- but I can't believe any of it." In "Mr. Lazarescu" Puiu does an "ER," Rumanian style. There's movement in only one direction -- following sixty-something Lazarescu, a drinker with a sore belly and a terrible headache, on a Saturday night in Bucharest when there has been a bad bus accident, after he calls 911. Puiu throws out hints of profundity with names in the script like Lazarus, Virgil, Dante, Remus, and Angel; and the trek from hospital to hospital as Lazarescu's diagnosis changes and his condition worsens can be seen as a journey through Hell. But the film didn't win the Un Certain Regard top prize at Cannes this year because of any message. It's Puiu's attention to detail, the precise planning of dialog and camera positions that gives a sense of documentary accuracy to the action and makes the film compulsively watchable and somehow unique and yet universal.

A splendid movie. Probably one of the top five selections of the New York Film Festival. There is much that can be said about it but really only one thing need be said: see it as soon as you can. Watch for a DVD release.