Tudor Giurgiu starts shooting Of Men and Snails

by Stefan Dobroiu

29/08/2011 - Director Tudor Giurgiu (pictured) has recently started shooting his second feature, Of Men and Snails (working title). This Romania-France co-production centres on the tribulations of a group of workers in a Romanian factory, a few years after the 1989 Revolution. Threatened with redundancy because of their employer's bankruptcy, the workers find an unexpected solution to their financial problems. Written by Ionut Teianu, the project is inspired by a true story.

The ensemble cast comprises Andi Vasluianu (Outbound [trailer],California Dreamin' [trailer]), Dorel Visan, Monica Barladeanu (to be seen in this year's film by Fabrizio Cattani, Maternity Blues [trailer]),Valeria Seciu (Aurora [trailer]), Clara Voda (If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle) [trailer]). The DoP is Vivi Dragan Vasile (The Other Irina, Silent Wedding [trailer]).

Shooting started on 26 August and will wrap in six weeks. The locations include the capital and smaller towns such as Calarasi, Amara and Targoviste.

Of Men and Snails is produced by Giurgiu's Libra Film, together with Agat Films & Ex Nihilo (France). Tudor Giurgiu, Oana Giurgiu and Patrick Sobleman are the film's producers. The budget amounts to €1.2m, a third of which comes from Romanian National Film Centre, with the support of Eurimages and MEDIA Programme. The film already has an international distributor, Elle Driver, and Libra Film plans to release Of Men and Snails next summer, through its distribution arm Transilvania Film.

Tudor Giurgiu's first film, Love Sick, premiered in 2006 in the Panorama sidebar of the Berlinale. The director is also president of Romania's most important film festival, Transylvania International Film Festival, which is held every year in June. As Of Men and Snails is the director's second feature, the film will have the chance to compete next year for the Transylvania Trophy.