The Romanian 'New Wave'

By: Greg

I’m always skeptical of any film movement called a “new wave.” I think many people with taste in film similar to mine associate the phrase “new wave” with certain french filmmakers precisely because they opened a new way of looking at and thinking about film. After all, it has been said that there are only two chapters in cinema: before Breathless and after Breathless.

Earlier this year, one of Monocle’s blogs ran an article called “2010: Crunch time for Romania’s ‘New Wave’” (See it here at: http://www.monocle.com/monocolumn/2010/01/04/2010-crunch-time-for-romanias-new-wave/ ). This article argued that Romania has several ingredients seen in new waves: filmmakers that work together, a grouping of talent, and a desire to break with the past. “But despite the 2007 Palm d’Or awarded to Cristian Mungiu at Cannes for Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days (pretty much the most prestigious thing that can happen to a film) and its growing international reputation, the Romanian film industry is not well.” Now is the time for Romania’s young film movement to sink or swim.