21/09/2010

Though his epic Portrait of a Fighter As A Young Man [+see also:
film review
film profile] premiered in the Forum section of the Berlin Film Festival only seven months ago, Romanian director Constantin Popescu already presented his latest film, Principles of Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Constantin Popescu
film profile], in the Zabaltegi sidebar of the San Sebastian Film Festival, currently underway.

Very different from the dense historical look at Romanian resistance fighters of Portrait, which was filmed in crystalline and handheld widescreen, Principles is a domestic drama that looks at about 24 hours in the life of a family father who tries to juggle a difficult client at work, his rebellious teenage son, who lives with his ex-wife, his younger wife and their ill baby, a new villa the family is building and the fact they are going on holiday to Bulgaria.

Very much in line with the previous work of screenwriting duo Razvan Radulescu and Alexandru Baciu, notably their screenplays for Radu Muntean (Boogie [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dragos Vîlcu
interview: Radu Muntean
film profile], Tuesday After Christmas [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Radu Muntean
film profile]), Popescu’s latest is a naturalist look at the life of an ordinary, middle-class Romanian, played to perfection and without a trace of vanity by actor Vlad Ivanov (the evil doctor from 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Oleg Mutu
film profile]).

Unpretentious and soberly shot, the film’s purposefully ordinary look, in a generic 1:1.85 aspect ratio, helps to further normalise the already everyday story of an average Joe who tries to cope with whatever comes on his path as he tries to juggle work and family commitments.

The film was produced by Ada Solomon for Hi Film Productions, in co-production with Sharf Film and Tandem Film and with backing from the Romanian CNC. It is sold internationally by the Paris- and Barcelona-based Coach14.