about Scientista 2019 production representing Livio Sandulescu’s feature directorial debut, a film that aired on the station last Thursday TVR Cultural, there would be very little to say. And even less good things. For more than 90 minutes, we tell the story of a man with a strange nickname, the name that gives the title to the play, born in Oltenia, somewhere displaced in a very beautiful commune in Argesh. Cinematographer Oleh Mutu constantly tries to show us this, developing a calm, sunny, obvious, probably desirable contrast with the tragedy of the object. The scientist himself is raising his only grandson. A teenager named Christy (played by Vlad Popescu), orphaned by both parents.

The main character has been suffering from severe pain in the stomach for some time, which, after a medical consultation, turns out to be a sign of an incurable stage of cancer. The main character has to solve two big problems in the short time left. Ensuring a relatively secure future for the grandson, which turns out to be no easy task given the precariousness of social assistance in Romania, as well as organizing his own funeral.

Solving the second problem turns out to be the most difficult. Because the sixty-year-old Carturan, brilliantly played by the late Theodore Corban, wants not only a permanent place and a coffin, but also a scheduled almsgiving to take place during his lifetime. A fact that provokes a reaction of rejection from various women in the village (Carmen Tenase and Elvira Rimbu pass through the frame as fugitives), even from Saveta (Dana Gogaru). And even from the country priest (very well played by Adrian Titiani) who cannot serve a service that would be against the rules. How to give alms to a person who is still alive?

As you can easily see, the cast contains important names, to those already mentioned I must add the names of Christina Fluture, who interprets the only female role somewhat more consistently. Only, unfortunately, the actors cannot compensate for the subtlety of the script. Very few things happen in Scientistthe narrative is not contrived, the film is limited to a succession of sequences in which two characters discuss each other.

Naturally, as with most New Wave films, the shots are long, drawn out beyond forgiveness, even after they no longer communicate anything. When will it continue. Read the entire article and comment on contributors.ro