BERLINER / THE CAMPAIGN
Saturday, June 4, 4:00 pm
Miracle Theatre
535 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Director: Marian Crișan, 2020, subtitles, 93 minutes
Viorel, a quiet, upright tractor driver from a small town in west Romania, meets Mocanu, a high-profile politician campaigning for a seat in the European Parliament. Mocanu’s car has broken down nearby and Viorel and his wife welcome the politician into their humble home. Under investigation for corruption, Mocanu sees an opportunity and decides to stay with this modest family during the rest of the campaign, winning people’s hearts by posing as a common man next to his “old friend”, the honest, hard-working farmer. In return, Viorel will get a new tractor.
The fourth feature film directed by Marian Crișan, who wrote the screenplay with writer Gabriel Andronache. They had previously collaborated on the short film AMATORUL/THE AMATEUR (2007). Marian Crișan won, among several accolades, the Golden Palm for the Best Short Film at Cannes Film Festival 2008 with MEGATRON and four prizes, including the Jury Special Award, at Locarno Film Festival 2010 with his debut feature, MORGEN. The film’s director of photography is Oleg Mutu, one of the most respected Romanian cinematographers, who worked with the likes of Cristian Mungiu, Cristi Puiu, Sergei Loznitsa, Aleksandr Mindadze, Igor Cobileanski, Tomasz Wasilewski, Radu Potcoavă, Anca Damian, Florin Șerban, Liviu Săndulescu and Bogdan George Apetri.
Selections, nominations & awards:
- Russian Cinema Club Federation “Keen Eye” Award – Moscow IFF 2020 (world premiere);
- Cottbus FF 2020 (competition);
- Arras FF 2020 (European competition);
- Trieste FF 2021 (competition);
- Pula FF 2021 (competition);
- Transilvania IFF 2021 (Romanian Days competition);
- Prague IFF – Febiofest 2021;
- Best Supporting Actress nomination (Maria Junghiețu) - Gopo Awards 2022