Stere Gulea

COMUNICAT DE PRESĂ

Cea de-a noua ediţie MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema, care va începe pe 4 decembrie la New York, va cuprinde în program un portret dedicat regizorului Stere Gulea. Din filmografia lui Gulea, unul din cei mai importanţi cineaşti români, vor fi prezentate Sunt o babă comunistă (2013), în premieră pentru publicul new-yorkez, şi Moromeţii (1987).  
Deşi MAKING WAVES este cel mai important eveniment de promovare a noii cinematografii româneşti în SUA, niciuna dintre ediţiile de până acum nu a scăpat din vedere filmele clasice care, consideră fondatorii Romanian Film Initiative, merită (re)descoperite de cinefilii americani. În anii trecuţi, au fost prezentate, printre altele, retrospectivele Alexandru Tatos şi Liviu Ciulei, iar în 2013 ţara westernurilor a primit porţia de eastern prin proiecţia trilogiei Ardelenilor, de Dan Piţa și Mircea Veroiu. Anul acesta, festivalul aduce la Film Society of Lincoln Center una din capodoperele filmului românesc, Moromeţii, a regizorului Stere Gulea, şi cel mai recent film al său, Sunt o babă comunistă.

Potrivit lui Lucian Pintilie, Stere Gulea, cunoscut ca regizor, scenarist, dar şi ca membru activ al societăţii civile după revoluția din ’89, posedă o viziune asupra lumii deopotrivă „severă şi obiectivă”. Printre cele zece filme pe care le-a realizat în cei patruzeci de ani de carieră, se numără două din cele mai celebre adaptări literare din cinematografia românească: Moromeţii (după romanul omonim al lui Marin Preda),  Vulpe vânător (după volumul Hertei Müller Încă de pe atunci vulpea era vânătorul), dar și recentul Sunt o babă comunist㸠după romanul lui Dan Lungu. De asemenea, Stere Gulea a scris şi regizat unul dintre cele mai puternice filme despre Revoluţie, Stare de fapt şi a coregizat documentarul Piaţa Universităţii – România, despre protestele din Bucureşti, după căderea regimului Ceauşescu.

În secţiunea prin care MAKING WAVES îl omagiază pe Stere Gulea la cea de-a noua ediţie a festivalului, va fi prezentat la Film Society of Lincol Center pe 5 şi 7 decembrie Sunt o babă comunistă, în prezenţa regizorului şi a actriţei Ana Ularu, care joacă în film alături de Luminiţa Gheorghiu şi de Marian Râlea. Deşi tratează un subiect delicat, nostalgia pentru regimul comunist, pelicula lui Gulea reuşeşte cu subtilitate, umor şi empatie să evite verdictele ideologice. „Eu am adus la zi acţiunea din cartea lui Dan Lungu şi am plasat-o imediat după izbucnirea crizei economice în România. Am crezut că această criză repune în discuţie relaţia noastră, a celor din estul comunist, cu trecutul,” e de părere regizorul. „În România, cei catalogaţi drept nostalgici erau văzuţi în discursul public ca fiind cei care trag societatea în jos sau o ţin pe loc. Într-o măsură, era adevărat, dar am simţit că nu era doar atât. Am încercat să-i privesc puţin diferit pe aceşti oameni, percepuţi ca un fel de paria, şi am încercat să înţeleg şi argumentele lor, ale celor care, în jurul vârstei de 50 de ani s-au trezit socialmente inutili. Am început să-i vad ca pe nişte semeni, nu ca pe nişte scheme, reprezentanţi ideologici ai unui curent sau altul,” adaugă Stere Gulea într-un interviu pentru Romanian Film Initiative şi Veioza Arte.

Moromeţii va fi cel de-al doilea titlu semnat de Gulea care va fi prezentat la Film Society of Lincoln Center, tot în prezenţa autorului, pe 7 decembrie. Realizată în 1987, cine-adaptarea după binecunoscutul roman al lui Marin Preda rămâne un reper fundamental în cinematografia românească. Avându-i în distribuţie, printre alţii, pe Victor Rebengiuc, Luminița Gheorghiu, Gina Patrichi, Dorel Vișan, Mitică Popescu și Florin Zamfirescu, filmul a primit după lansare numeroase premii din partea Asociaţiei Cineaştilor din România, iar Rebengiuc a fost premiat pentru acest rol la festivaluri din Italia şi în Portugalia. La aproape 30 de ani de la apariţia filmului, schimbările sociale prin care trecea, înainte de al Doilea Război Mondial, lumea lui Ilie Moromete îşi va găsi ecourile în rândul spectatorilor şi criticilor de film americani, care vor putea dialoga direct cu regizorul, invitatul special Making Waves, în acest an.

„Pentru mine e o surpriză că sunt invitat la New York, pentru că ştiu că există o cercetare de piaţă legată de ce ar putea interesa publicul de la Lincoln Center, un public de elită, care aşteaptă să vadă lucruri interesante din noul cinema românesc,” spune Stere Gulea. „Nu am avut până acum posibilitatea să ştiu care ar fi aşteptările publicului american de la cinemaul românesc, iar filmele mele din festival, Moromeţii şi Sunt o babă comunistă, nu sunt pe un trend estetic la modă. Prin ele, am încercat să creez o lume autentică şi vie şi rămâne de văzut dacă asta mai spune astăzi ceva. Am încercat să vorbesc despre oameni, care, în măsura în care capătă chip şi consistenţă, poate mai emoţionează,” explică regizorul.

Programul complet MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema 2014 este detaliat în broșura festivalului, biletele fiind deja în vânzare la Film Society of Lincoln Center şi Jacob Burns Film Center.

Și în acest an trailerul festivalului a fost realizat de compania Jump Cut din New York, specializată în realizarea de trailere pentru numeroase producții cinematografice și evenimente de gen, printre care New York Film Festival.

Cea de-a noua ediţie MAKING WAVES beneficiază, în premieră, de susţinerea celor mai importante asociaţii profesionale din domeniul cinematografiei româneşti, Uniunea Cineaştilor din România şi Centrul Naţional al Cinematografiei. Festivalul este posibil cu ajutorul Trust for Mutual Understanding, HBO România, Stefania Magidson - Blue Heron Foundation, ICON Production, Lark Play Development Center şi John Eisner, precum şi a numeroși donatori și susținători individuali. Printre aceştia, se numără Lucian Pintilie, Adrian Ghenie, Şerban Savu, Dan Perjovschi, Marie-France Ionesco, Corneliu Porumboiu, Daiana Voiculescu, Mihai Pop, Marius Bercea, Tim Nădăşan, Radu Jude, Vladimir Tismăneanu, Ovidiu Şandor, Mona Nicoară, Tania Radu, Dan C. Mihăilescu, Anca Fronescu, Anda Onesa, Miruna Coca-Cozma, Marius Stan, Vlad Iftinca, Ana Maria Sandu, Alexander Nanău, Andreea Vălean, Radu Ciorniciuc, Cristian Neagoe, Luiza Vasiliu, Florin şi Svetlana Mihăilescu, Domnica Nasta, Mica Ertegun, Andrei Both, Daniela Codarcea, Andrew Solomon, Eva-Maria Preiswerk și Freundschaftsverein Schweiz-Rumänien, Richard Peña, Uberto Pasolini şi mulţi alţii.

Parteneri media: Hotnews, Mediafax, Şapte Seri, Radio România Cultural, Cinemagia, Film Reporter, Veioza Arte, Decât O Revistă, Sub 25, Think Outside the Box.

TURNING THE PAGE
Thu 28 Nov – Mon 2 Dec 2013
www.rofilmfest.com

The 10th Romanian Film Festival in London: TURNING THE PAGE brings you the latest, the most exciting and the most illuminating productions from the ferment of the Romanian film industry. Shown for the first time in the UK, these films tell the story of a rapidly evolving society.

Hugely popular actors and immensely insightful directors will lend their presence to the screenings within the 10th Romanian Film Festival in London: actor Victor Rebengiuc (Japanese Dog), actor and director Horatiu Malaele (Happy Funerals), actor Bogdan Dumitrache (When Evening Falls On Bucharest Or Metabolism), actors Dragos Bucur, Alexandru Papadopol and Dorian Boguta (Love Building), director Stere Gulea (I Am An Old Communist Hag), and director Adrian Sitaru (Domestic). Join us on the red carpet!

TURNING THE PAGE is a phrase which speaks of an end, but, more importantly – a beginning. Romanian film makers wrote a new chapter of international film making with the New Wave. Now the films on show look back past the New Wave in terms of technique, and forward in terms of content, social analysis and storytelling. Above all, these stories speak of a new understanding and a new relationship with the outside world. The windows have been thrown open! We’re turning the page!

Save the dates for our 5-day celebration of film! Join the Facebook page of the Romanian Film Festival in London http://Facebook.com/RoFilmFest for some great news, competitions and prizes,including your chance to meet the top actors and directors invited, and more!

All films are inRomanian with English subtitles. Screenings will take place at:
Curzon Soho (99 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5DY) between Thu 28 Nov – Sun 1 Dec 2013
Buy tickets here: http://www.curzoncinemas.com/rff ; Tel. 0330 500 1331
Tickets: £13.75/£11.55 cineaste and rising star – free for icon and auteur
(see Curzon membership scheme http://www.curzoncinemas.com/membership/membersbenefits.aspx)

EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN) on Mon 2 Dec 2013
Book your free seats here: www.ebrd.com/pages/news/events/happy-funerals.shtml; e-mail: EBRDevents@ebrd.com before 28 Nov.

The Romanian Film Festival in London is organised by Profusion International Creative Consultancy, in partnership with The National Centre of Cinematography in Romania and Curzon Cinemas. This project is supported by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The Department for Romanians Abroad, Embassy of Romania to the UK, ROMANi-ONLiNE.co.uk and EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development).

Sponsors: Lebara, Levenes Solicitors, O2, Albinuța, EuroTop, Autoboca, Prodan Romanian Cultural Foundation, Blue Air, Diaspora românească

Widely viewed as a celebration of Romania and its spirit, the RFF is supported both by the UK-Romanian community, and various British and Romanian organisations. RFF is a not-for-profit enterprise, functioning with the help of grants and sponsorship from our friends and supporters.

PROGRAMME:

Thursday 28 November 6.30pm
at Curzon Soho
UK Premiere: JAPANESE DOG [advised 16]
Plus Q&A with lead actor VICTOR REBENGIUC
Director: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu • Romania 2013 • 85 minutes • Romanian with English subtitles • Romanian title: Cainele japonez

Synopsis: This moving directorial debut focuses on the reconciliation between a father and his prodigal son who emigrated many years previously. This is a beautifully directed chamber piece that profits from an exceptional performance by Victor Rebengiuc.

Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Serban Pavlu, Laurentiu Lazar, Kana Hashimoto, Ioana Abur, Alexandrina Halic

VICTOR REBENGIUC is one of the most distinguished Romanian stage and screen actors, a real acting legend with a career spanning more than 50 years. He is also renowned as a civil society activist.
In 1957, he made his debut as a member of the famous Bulandra Theatre company, acting in more than 200 roles on that stage alone.
With his breakthrough performance in Liviu Ciulei’s The Forest of the Hanged (Padurea spanzuratilor) Rebengiuc became a major figure in Romanian cinema, idolised for his 1988 appearance in Stere Gulea’s Morometii. He has also starred in films by Dan Pita (Tanase Scatiu; Sand Cliffs - Faleze de nisip) and Lucian Pintilie (Carnival Scenes - De ce trag clopotele, Mitica?; The Oak - Balanta; Too Late – Prea tarziu; Last Stop Paradise - Terminus paradis; Niki and Flo – Niki Ardelean, colonel in rezerva; Tertium non datur).
Victor Rebengiuc has worked with all the greats of Romanian cinematography while also working for younger directors such as Cristi Puiu, Radu Muntean, Lucian Georgescu, Calin Peter Netzer and Tudor Cristian Jurgiu.

“Tudor Cristian Jurgiu makes a quietly impressive debut with this deceptively simple tale of a father and son. Handsomely shot to privilege nature’s prime position in rural life, this (...) tale, told in beautifully self-contained scenes (...), boasts a sterling performance by Victor Rebengiuc, the best-known Romanian actor of his generation, in a role of unassuming dignity.” (Jay Weissberg, Variety)

Director’s biography:
TUDOR CRISTIAN JURGIU graduated in 2009 from the Film and TV Directing department of the UNATC. In 2009, he made Oli's Wedding, which won the Best Short Film award in Leeds and Anonimul Film Festivals, the Best Romanian Short award at NexT 2009 Festival, and the Best Short of the Year trophy at the Gopo Awards 2010. His latest short, In the Fishbowl, is the recipient of the 3rd prize award of Cannes' Cinéfondation section.

Friday 29 November 6.20pm
at Curzon Soho
UK Premiere: I AM AN OLD COMMUNIST HAG [advised 16]
Plus Q&A with director STERE GULEA
Director: Stere Gulea • Romania 2013 • 94 minutes • English and Romanian with English subtitles • Romanian title: Sunt o baba comunista!

Synopsis: This adaptation of Dan Lungu’s 2007 novel details the chaos that ensues when an estranged family is reunited. The quiet provincial life of couple Emilia and Tucu is turned upside down when their daughter returns from Canada, together with her American fiancée.

Cast: Luminita Gheorghiu, Marian Ralea, Ana Ularu, Valeria Seciu

Director’s biography:
STERE GULEA was born in 1943 in the district of Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constantza. He is of Aromanian (Macedo-Romanian) origin.
His best known feature is The Moromete Family (Morometii, 1988), an adaptation after Marin Preda’s novel of the same title.
He also co-directed the documentary University Square – Romania (Piata Universitatii – Romania, 1991), a presentation of the one-month long rally in University Place, Bucharest, where Romanian people demonstrated against the neo-communist government which had taken power after the toppling of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The film also shows the brutal repression of the rally by the government forces.
After 1989, Stere Gulea became a respected civil society activist.
Selected filmography: Roots (Radacini, 2013), I Am An Old Communist Hag (Sunt o baba comunista, 2013), Weekend With My Mother (Weekend cu mama, 2009), Hacker (2004), State of Things (Stare de fapt, 1996), Fox – Hunter (Vulpe – Vanator, 1993), University Square – Romania (Piata Universitatii – Romania, documentary, 1991), The Moromete Family (Morometii, 1988), The Bear’s Eye (Ochi de urs, 1983), Castle of the Carpathians (Castelul din Carpati, 1981), The Green Grass of Home (Iarba verde de acasa, 1978).

Saturday 30 November 2013, 6.30pm
at Curzon Soho
UK Premiere: DOMESTIC [advised 16]
Plus Q&A with director ADRIAN SITARU
Director: Adrian Sitaru • Romania 2012 • 85 minutes • Romanian with English subtitles

Synopsis: Domestic is an account of life for a group of residents in a tower block. Sitaru’s black comedy draws out the very worst in his characters, with hilarious results. Wonderfully surreal, painfully real, this is the story of children, adults and animals who live together, struggling to achieve a better life.

Cast: Adrian Titieni, Gheorghe Ifrim, Sergiu Costache, Ioana Flora, Clara Voda, Dan Hurduc, Ariadna Titieni

Director’s biography:
ADRIAN SITARU was born in 1971. He is the author of several short films, of which Valuri (Waves, 2007), the most well-known, has received numerous prizes. His short film Colivia (The Cage, 2009) won the DAAD Short Film Award at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). Other shorts: Lord (2009), Chefu’ (House Party), 2012.
Domestic (2013) is Adrian Sitaru's third feature film, following Hooked (Pescuit sportiv, 2008) and Best Intentions (Din dragoste cu cele mai bune intentii, 2011), both awarded prizes in numerous prestigious festivals.

Sunday 1 December 2013, 3.00pm
at Curzon Soho
UK Premiere: WHEN EVENING FALLS ON BUCHAREST OR METABOLISM [advised 16]
Plus Q&A with lead actor BOGDAN DUMITRACHE
Director: Corneliu Porumboiu • Romania, France 2013 • 89 minutes • Romanian with English subtitles • Romanian title: Cand se lasa seara peste Bucuresti sau Metabolism

Synopsis: A director shooting a film finds his life unravelling as he comes to terms with crises in his personal life. The third film from the director of 12:08 East of Bucharest is another sly satire.

Cast: Bogdan Dumitrache, Diana Avramut, Mihaela Sirbu, Alexandru Papadopol

Director’s biography:
CORNELIU PORUMBOIU was born in 1975, in Vaslui, Romania. He graduated from the National University of Theatre and Cinematography, where he studied Film Directing. His short films, made while he attended the University, won awards at major film festivals including Cannes and Montpellier. In 2005 Porumboiu entered the residency program Cinéfondation in Cannes. In 2006 he made his first feature - 12:08 East of Bucharest - which was selected in the Quinzaine des Realisateurs and won the Camera d’Or for debut and the Label Europe, the film distributors’ award. The film received many other prizes at film festivals all over the world. In 2009, Porumboiu’s Police, Adjective won the FIPRESCI and Jury prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, where it screened in the Un Certain Regard section. The film has been further honoured with numerous national and international awards. His latest film is the 2013 production When Evening Falls on Bucharest or Metabolism.

"Mr. Porumboiu is a master of the long static shot, the weary argument and the deadpan existential joke. He fixes his camera on the struggles of minor potentates and midlevel functionaries - a TV host in 12:08; a detective and his bosses in Police, Adjective; a movie director in When Evening Falls on Bucharest, or Metabolism - and divines the secrets of his society, and of our vain, pathetic species, in the smallest details of speech and behaviour." (New York Times)

Sunday 1 December 2013, 6.00pm
at Curzon Soho
UK Premiere: LOVE BUILDING [advised 16]
Plus Q&A with lead actors DRAGOS BUCUR, ALEXANDRU PAPADOPOL and DORIAN BOGUTA
Director: Iulia Rugina • Romania 2013 • 85 minutes • Romanian with English subtitles

Synopsis: Love Building is a camp designed to mend broken relationships. Fourteen couples in the program have seven days to re-design their love lives. Unsurprisingly, things don’t go according to plan.

Box-office hit Love Building by first-timer Iulia Rugina is actually the result of an acting workshop. Except for the leading trio (played by the well-known actors Dragos Bucur, Alexandru Papadopol and Dorian Boguta, who also run a private acting school in real life), everybody else in the cast is a student.

Cast: Alexandru Papadopol, Dorian Boguta, Dragos Bucur, Eugen Matei Lumezianu, Dana Sava, Claudia Ciurca, Emil Ciuchi, Andreea Scradeanu, Melania Brinza, Bogdan Ungureanu, Ioana Paunescu, Oltin Hurezeanu, Georgiana Stanciu, Florin Ilisie, Laura Musat, Ruxandra Serban, Ion Rusu, Ecaterina Istrate, Mirabela Ciurez, Anca Tivadar, Bogdan Vasilief, Paul Radu, Adela Dinca, Mirela Ionascu, Silvia Morosanu, Dragos Sora, Adina Stetcu, Iulia Tones, Elena Crismaru, Bogdan Vulpe, Carmen Hategan, Ioan Rusu, Ana Bostan, Hamid Nicola Katrib

Director’s biography:
IULIA RUGINA was born in 1982 in Bucharest, and studied film directing at UNATC Bucharest (2002-2006). In 2011, she finished her master's degree in film directing. She has directed eight short films and three medium-length films, having co-written most of them. Her films were screened at over 50 film-related events in 13 countries. She is also highly involved in the educational side of filmmaking, as a trainer in different projects for amateurs, beginners or children and as co-founder of a cultural association focused on film education. Her debut feature is the low budget film Love Building, and she is now in pre-production with her second feature film Breaking News.

“Love Building started out as a game to play, an exercise, an experiment, a school project. It wasn't planned to be my debut feature, but it just happened, as it grew slowly from all the passion everyone put in it. It was not a script I developed in years, it does not explore a theme that was haunting me, nor an aesthetic statement that I have. It is just a warm hearted, simple, honest film that talks about things we have all lived and will keep living forever. It's the kind of film that could make you laugh, cry, have butterflies in your stomach and a bitter sweet smile when it ends. Just like falling in love...” – Iulia Rugina, director

Monday 2 December 2013, 6.30pm
at EBRD (One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN)
UK Premiere: HAPPY FUNERALS
Plus Q&A with director and lead actor HORATIU MALAELE
Director: Horatiu Malaele • Romania 2013 • 111 minutes • Romanian with English subtitles • Romanian title: Funeralii fericite!
The screening is preceded by a drinks reception from 5.30pm.
The screening and reception are free and open to all, but prior registration is essential at EBRDevents@ebrd.com (by 28 November the latest).

Synopsis: Three heavy boozers - a Romanian, a Russian and a Bulgarian - are tippling away their well being, in vodka. A police raid chases away the pub's barflies. The three professional boozers stop running just in front of a fortune teller, an expert in her own niche: the prediction of death. The rest is fate!

Cast: Horatiu Malaele, Mihai Gruia Sandu, Crina Semciuc

Director’s biography:
HORATIU MALAELE was born in 1952, in Targu Jiu, Gorj. Actor, director, caricaturist.
In 1975 he graduated from the "I.L. Caragiale" Institute of Drama and Cinematography Art, Bucharest, Drama Department, Class of prof. univ. Octavian Cotescu. He worked for the Tineretului Theatre in Piatra Neamt and for the Nottara Theatre. Since 1966 he has been working for the Bulandra Theatre.
As a caricaturist, he has displayed over 3000 caricatures in 36 national and international exhibitions.
Happy Funerals is the second feature directed by Horatiu Malaele, after Silent Wedding (Nunta muta, 2008).