MUBI

Eu când vreau sa fluier, fluier or If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle is the representative of Romania for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2011. One of the five positions merebutkan film nominations, and of course the position of the previous winners diraup by El secreto de sus Ojos from Argentina. Previously, If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle been sitting as the nominee of the Golden Bear at 60th Berlin International Film Festival (beaten by Bal from Turkey which was also sent to the Oscars 2011 as the representative of Turkey), this film won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

This Romanian film tells the story of a young Romanian, Silvu (George Piştereanu), who will be free from the jail fifteen days later. The problem is, Silvu just got news that his irresponsible mother (Clara Voda) recently returned from Italy and wish to bring out younger brother Silvu (which already fosterage by Silvu for eight years) to Italy seven days later. This term, of course, extremely rejected by Silvu. This Florin Turban movie is not only a challenge pf moral and humanity of understanding the problems that confronted us via Silvu, but also simply emotionally challenging.

In terms of its prison atmosphere, the naturalist style in the film is somewhat reminiscent to Un Prophète, a 2010 French prison film in which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. I’m not saying the two films is completely similar, both was so different in fact. Only Un Prophète is a film that immediately comes to mind when I feel the atmosphere of the prison that served by If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (probably because both are equally representative for Best Foreign Language Oscar). Moreover, as I said earlier, both movies are different. If the prison in Un prophète used as a media to convert Malik figure from young man who does not know anything to be a “Prophet” in prison, the film from Romania is presenting even more personal story of where the jail used as a barrier for Silvu to save his brother from the grip mother.

Florin turban presents film debut with a minimalist approach to realism-thick, natural lighting, naturalistic acting, coupled with psychological approaches that are appropriate to each character. George Piştereanu provide a very natural appearance as a central figure. Nonbeing background music, which is often found in realist films, make this film secretly crawling and gripping.

The story becomes more interesting when Ana (There Condeescu), the practice of psychology students who were in prison, introduced. Of course there is a kind of attraction between Ana and Silvu, but Florin Turban smortly not direct this one into a romance shite. Ana who is psychologically and mentally calm and knows how to looked normal presented as a contradiction to the unstable and unpredictable behavior of Silvu. When the problem lies with Silvu feels increasingly heavy to carry on, “shortcut” is the only way a human-nature, isn’t it? Silvu decided to kidnap Ana. Similar to that done in the Un Prophète, when circumstances forced Malik violence (murder), the situation also compel Silvu do the same.

I really enjoy the If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle. This film took me through the street with a very complex one’s mind. This movie plots interwoven very neat and focus. And finally, If I Want to Whistle, I Whislte ended up as a movie not moral, or humanistic, or a movie about a crime, or of criminal instincts, but purely as a film about understanding each other. This is a low budget movie. And yes, the only shortcomings of this movie is probably the way he carries with a very universal theme. This is definitely not a movie that can be received by all kind of people. But, ultimately, this film managed to make my real thoughts groping to someone like Silvu.