As my first film of the 2009 festival, this was the perfect opener and a great example of why I go to MIFF. It was in turn funny, absurd, moving, dramatic and is likely to never hit any other screens in Australia, ever.
Romania, 1953. A small village – which sits spiritually somewhere between Bruegel's Netherlandish Proverbs and Twin Peaks – prepares for the much-anticipated wedding of two of its young-folk. A feast is prepared, alcohol and lamp oil stockpiled, and gypsy musicians commandeered, when suddenly Communist officials march into town and announce the death of the glorious leader Stalin, decreeing that there can be no celebrations of any kind for the next seven days. Even smiling is prohibited. Not to be thwarted, the townspeople find their own way to observe the festivities...
Director Horatiu Malaele, well-versed in the language of visual comedy, creates a beautiful sense of bottled-up joy, particularly in the epynomous silent banquet scene. But, even more skillfully, he carries us with him on hairpin turns from high comedy to pitch-black tragedy. This is a great addition to the pantheon of films which celebrate the endurance of the human spirit amidst the terror of political oppression.
Four stars.
View the trailer here
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