Aferim! (2015)

Set in early 19th century Romania, a policeman, Costandin, is hired by a nobleman to find a Gypsy slave who has run away from his estate after having an affair with his wife.

Director:

Radu Jude

Writers:

Radu Jude (screenplay), Florin Lazarescu

Stars:

Teodor Corban, Mihai Comanoiu, Toma Cuzin

23 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Teodor Corban	...	Costandin
Mihai Comanoiu	...	Ionita
Toma Cuzin	...	Carfin Pandolean
Alexandru Dabija	...	Iordache Cîndescu
Luminita Gheorghiu	...	Smaranda Cîndescu
Victor Rebengiuc	...	Stan Paraschiv
Alberto Dinache	...	Tintiric
Alexandru Bindea	...	Priest on the road
Mihaela Sirbu	...	Sultana
Adina Cristescu	...	Zambila
Serban Pavlu	...	Traveler
Gabriel Spahiu	...	Vasile
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mihaela Drãgan	...	Carfin's Wife
Claudiu Dumitru	...	Capetenia robilor
Puiu Mircea Lascus	...	Hangiul

Storyline

Set in early 19th century Wallachia, when a local policeman, Costandin, is hired by Iordache, a boyar (local noble), to find Carfin, a Gypsy slave who had run away from the boyar's estate after having an affair with his wife, Sultana. Costandin sets out to find the fugitive, beginning a journey full of adventures. Gypsy slavery lasted from the 14th century up until the middle of the 19th century, a situation which is very little known and almost nonexistent in the public debate today, although its impact continues to influence Romania's social life.

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Plot Keywords:

slavery | gypsy | racism | husband wife relationship | year 1835 | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | History | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

Romania Bulgaria Czech Republic France

Language:

Romanian Turkish Romany

Release Date:

22 January 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bravo!

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Budget:

€1,250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,892, 24 January 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$104,706, 12 June 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

HI Film Productions,Klas Film,Endorfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 12th 'Jameson Cinefest - Miskolc International Film Festival' in Sept. 2015. Jury statement: "At a festival which salutes the cinematic legacy of the Western, the international jury of critics awards a film which updates and reconfigures the genre. With its humour, violence and compositional flair, Radu Jude's "Aferim!" is at once topical and timeless. We say 'bravo!' and 'aferim!' "

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Goofs

When she talks with Constandin, Smaranda calls him Carfin once.

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Quotes

Costandin: Woman shall be less castigated than men, as they are dimmer of wit and weaker before sin...

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Connections

References Morometii (1987)

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Soundtracks

Suitade jocuri turceasc
Music composed by Napoleon Constantin
Sung by Napoleon Constantin
Publisher: Fundatia Al. Tzigara-Samurcas

User Reviews

useful

an useful film. for understand the roots of modern Romania. a beautiful one. for archaic language's flavor, for the nuances of emotions, for the powerful clichés who defines the Walachian society not only in the year 1835. a seductive film. for the good performances, for the crumbs from great films, for the art to broke the limits between artistic film and documentary. an interesting film. for the science to reflect a period's deep lines of life. for humanity and for the grace of details. for the art not to remand but recreate not only a portrait but a state . for dialogs and for the values. for something who reflects the profound Romania behind the definitions or verdicts. Teodor Corban does an admirable job and Radu Jude becomes more than a promise for Romanian cinema. because, for the foreign public Aferim ! could be a slice of exotic world from Balkans in the XIX century. for the Romanians it represents chain of answers for a lot of questions. and, maybe, an exercise of honesty.