This is an atypical review for an atypical film. I was commenting it while watching, and I'll write again everything I commented during the struggle to watch Jude's film.
IT CONTAINS SPOILERS! AND SARCASM!
To cite from IMDb Trivia, Jude said "The essence of cinema is to be a serious art, a serious discipline -- I would like it to be treated seriously." This is the same man that shot a scene with a naked woman being chased by a guy with a bull mask and a scene where the teacher transforms herself into Dildo Woman who starts.... Putting the dildo in the mouths of those present at the parents meeting.
IT CONTAINS SPOILERS! AND SARCASM!
- As a first impression, I don't think I've ever seen another film with so much product placement per minute, and the street shootings seem to have been done without peoples consent, many who were being filmed were practically unaware why there's a guy with the camera filming them, making them confused and awkward (for example, the scene with the girl at the library at looks at the camera like "wtf?! Why are you filming me?"). For now, just the usual dead rhythm, lack of dialogue and that weird atmosphere, distinctive to many new Romanian film.
- A bit later, a scene at the market, there's an old lady coming straight to the camera and saying "eat my c_nt". So, yeah, they were filming randomly on the street. Jude didn't seem to care about any aspect, because he is an "artist", thus he grants himself the power to do whatever his mind cooks.
- A scene later, when Emi gets into the building, they've seen a little flower that grew out of the asphalt. Wow, wow, wow! What a scenery! We must film it! We must show the beauty of nature! Art! Wow! * sarcasm *
- If you're walking on the street, be careful not to pick your nose. It's possible that Radu Jude will be there shooting a film, and you will appear on peoples screens while you're searching for your booger!
- A scene later. Lets film these communist blocks for two minutes!
- The covid mask seems to be a totem in this film of supreme hipsters. 17 minute (5 were with the sex scene) and they already talked three times about the mask.
- A scene later. Lets film this other weird building for another minute because we're soo artistic, soo independent, soo avant-garde!
- A scene later. Wtf?! He stops the camera for a while to film a random man on the streets carrying a watermelon, then moves the camera to film the Fornetti panel?!
- What am I watching?!
- As an observation. I think there's an obsession with crosswalks, blocks and commercials. My limited mind cannot understand these subliminal messages. But I think the entire movie could've been shot in an intersection.
- 23:24 minutes have massed and I'm heroically resisting! I feel the urge to get up, start running in the house, do some push-ups, do something, anything...
- Lets take some other shots with this random old building. It's old and ruined and looks so.. artistic! We're wasting the viewers time? So what?!
- I can't resist the shots with crosswalks anymore!!! They are too many! I'll dream of crosswalks tonight!
- Minute 33:09... I can't watch anymore. Pause.
- Next day, another chance, from minute 33:09. Yeah, another crosswalk. When this movie ends, I want to count the scenes with crosswalks, just out of curiosity.
- Next scene. Lets film this random building too!
- Next scene. Lets film this other building, two minutes after the other building!
- From the voyeurist shots on the streets, we suddenly get to random images of communist Romania, some information about revolutions, some images of African natives, some with the army parade, to stories about WWII... because, why not? We're so artistic and avant-garde! Wow!
- After the images with the war and everything, we suddenly get to a scene with a nude girl (which I happen to know) and a weird joke that I don't understand (she is being chased by a guy with a bull mask. Wtf?!). Now I know how a psychedelic trip is like.
- Now come some jokes at a cash register, then some random shots at a library, then with the Orthodox Church... all of these with some subtitles with certain stories that I can no longer read. I'm watching as I'm looking into the void, while being on a mushroom trip.
- Other weird scenes... I went to the kitchen to get some milk. I want a Xanax. :(
- That's it! The action is starting! Emi comes into the school, she's getting her temperature taken by a watchman, she gets in school.... Lets see!
- Ok. We have this scene of public humiliation in a respectable institution. It's interesting, because according to Jude's speeches, he said that this film is trying to show reality of Bucharest, but this scene is totally parallel with reality. If any of you ever heard of such instances of public shaming in teaching institutions done by the board and parents, or if you think that this could be a possible thing in real life without some legal complaints, let me know. Meanwhile, we're watching the sex scene again, with the actress that is actually another acress in the sex scene (instead of the one that should've been).
- After an hour and some minutes, finally, there's something ok in this film. A discussion about ethics. A discussion which we all find anywhere, anytime. Actors are ok.
- Ok. This discussion about ethics has become one like those on Facebook, where idiots fight amongst each other with stupid arguments. And this is a long discussion, man! I've been watching it for about 29 minutes!
- Ok. I was not expecting her to transform herself into "Dildo Woman". : I don't know what I'm watching. Forgive me Father, for I have sinned! * sarcasm *
- The movie is over! Finally! Freeeeedooom!
To cite from IMDb Trivia, Jude said "The essence of cinema is to be a serious art, a serious discipline -- I would like it to be treated seriously." This is the same man that shot a scene with a naked woman being chased by a guy with a bull mask and a scene where the teacher transforms herself into Dildo Woman who starts.... Putting the dildo in the mouths of those present at the parents meeting.