Without further ado, production Paradox movie, made with the support of CNC, TVR and of course several other sponsors, marks the feature debut of director Stefan Patrascu. This comes after several short films, also directed by him in 2019-2021. The credits of the production include the names of several wonderful actors who, I say from the beginning, also give countless reasons to enjoy here. Of course, it is no small thing that Cecilia Barbora, Nikodim Ungurianu, Demetri Andras, Ion Hajduk, Mihai Malaimare, Ioan Brancu, Valentin Popescu, Magda Catone, Anka Sigartau, Tache Florescu or Nicoleta Lefter agree to perform in the debutante’s production. And of course last but not least, Razvan Vasylescu. The actor is now in great shape (check out the shows he’s been performing in several theaters in Bucharest) and he’s playing what I think is an exceptional role here.

The film, as it is called, is a gentle comedy. About everything that the third age means, about the risk and danger of futility, about abandonment by the family, about love that does not take age into account, as in the famous Old fashioned comedy Arbuzov, about the will to oppose them or recognize them and give them freedom, about the ability to take it from the very beginning. But also about the corruption of the government, which wants to make money, not only electorally, but also materially, with well-argued percentages, using, as it seems to me, the naivety of some seniors. A pot of honey is represented by access to projects financed from European funds.

Action No extensions takes place in a nursing home. What is his name Sunsets. An unfortunate building that should have been repaired a long time ago. However, the City Hall does not have the funds for this. The asylum is ruled with an iron fist by the director Violeta (Cecilia Barbora), who carelessly abuses all the pensioners of the institution, believing that she has the right of life and death over them. The director also has an informant (Nikodym Unguryanu) at her disposal, she has taken away the old people’s cards from which they receive a pension, she knows everything that moves in what seems to be her fiefdom. Here, no one dares to rebel, because if they do, there is a risk of expulsion. Behind the door. To be thrown out on the street. And where will you go when your daughter (Nicoleta Lefter) no longer wants to hear from you, believing that you are hopelessly alcoholic, and even restricts your right to see your grandchildren (the sequence of the phone conversation between granddaughter and grandfather is as follows: Mihai is moving, Mălaimare is moving) , when you take on small debts that you forgot to pay (Ion Hajduk)? The director makes his plans together with a local councilor (Tache Florescu). Employees of Sunsets it’s not all bad, and how can it be when Rodika (Magda Katone) is in love with Nela and Maria (Anka Sigartau) is in love with Laci, an otherwise decent Hungarian (Demetra András) who has to deal with some mini-ethnic discrimination. Screenwriters Alex Moliko and Marius T. Barna invented a short biographical moment for the other pensioners of the shelter. So many opportunities for absolutely wonderful solo performances by actors Ioan Branca, Valentin Popescu, Angel Popescu.

The director and adviser have the idea to use the received European funds to train pensioners in so-called cultural events. Like, for example, yoga exercises. Only they will fail. A former athlete named Dina (played with infinite exquisite nuance by Rezvan Vasilescu) also has an idea. This is the formation of a football team from the pensioners of the asylum, and also with a small reinforcement. Hello, and since the director of the dormitory is thinking of sending her to play in friendly parties, but of course arranged, with the directors of various departments, services, institutions subordinate to the city hall. And because it’s always nice to have fun with big and small bosses. However, the unexpected intervenes: the mayor, who wants to be re-elected (Georgiana Căzescu), plans to close, or rather, demolish the shelter. On whose land, of course, strategic investors will build a large shopping center. However, life goes on, and each hero will figure it out in his own way. Writers and director Stefan Patrask seem to like moralistic endings (see Dean’s mini-speech) and upbeat endings. Mircea Morariu

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