Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic

Synopsis

In 19th century Romania, Costandin, a policeman of the time, and his son travel through the country in search of a fugitive Gypsy slave.

Director's Statement

I don’t know which psychologist said that a person is mentally healthy only if they know where they come from, where they are and where they want to go. I believe this applies to societies too, not only individuals. The Romanian society will not be truly healthy until it faces its past with honesty and lucidity – be it the recent or the remote past.
The movie AFERIM! is an attempt to gaze into the past, to take a journey inside the mentalities of the beginning of the 19th century – all epistemological imperfections inherent to such an enterprise included. It is obvious that such an effort would be pointless should we not believe that this hazy past holds the explanation for certain present issues.
“We research each period firstly for the promises they contain for the following period” says Johan Huizinga. More than anything, I want this film to be a stimulus that makes the audience question in a deeper and more systematic way the issues I was only able to bring up.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Radu Jude

Written by: Radu Jude, Florin Lazarescu

Produced by: Ada Solomon, Rossitsa Valkanova, Jiří Konečný, Ovidiu Sandor

Cinematography: Marius Panduru

Editing: Catalin Cristutiu

Production Design: Augustina Stanciu

Costume Design: Dana Paparuz

Original Score: Trei Parale

Sound Design: Dana Lucretia Bunescu

Cast: Teodor Corban (Costandin), Mihai Comanoiu (Ionita), Cuzin Toma (Carfin), Alexandru Dabija (Boyar Iordache Cindescu), Alexandru Bindea (The Priest), Luminita Gheorghiu (craftsman's wife), Victor Rebengiuc ( craftsman), Alberto Dinache (Tintiric), Mihaela Sirbu (Sultana), Adina Cristescu (Zambila), Serban Pavlu (traveller at the inn), Gabriel Spahiu (Vasile), Dan Nicolaescu ( merchant), Liviu Ornea (abbot)

Nominations and Awards

  • People's Choice Award 2016
  • European Screenwriter 2015
  • Feature Film Selection 2015