Archive of films Somewhere in Palilula / Undeva la Palilula

Romania
2012, 141 min

Section: East of the West - Competition
Year: 2012

Synopsis

A young pediatrician named Serafim arrives in Palilula, a small town somewhere off the map, where he is to start his first job after graduating from medical school. But he soon realizes that his dream of practising medicine in this town, a place where time has stopped, will not be fulfilled – and not merely because it’s been ages since a child was born there. Thus the maternity ward is used as a spa, a public house, an insane asylum, and various other things. In addition, the local doctors together with the larger-than-life inhabitants (slaves to the bottle one and all) organize endless lavish revels, never worrying themselves too much about work. Set in 1960s Romania, this original, artistically stylized movie is a successful allegory of the collapse of the communist regime. In his late film debut, renowned theater director Silviu Purcărete invites viewers into a world full of bizarre characters, surreal spectacles, and Kafkaesque situations.

About the director

Silviu Purcărete (b. 1950, Bucharest) is one of Romania’s top theater directors. During a career that spans more than 30 years, he has been awarded numerous prizes and his work has been lauded in countries around the world. He has celebrated success with both dramas (e.g. his acclaimed staging of Faust was all the rage at the 2009 Edinburgh International Festival) and operas (La Bohème and Parsifal, among many others). He has worked with the National Theater of Craiova for many years, and he recently began directing for the National Theater of Sibiu. His film debut, Somewhere in Palilula, brings together major names from Romanian theater and film.

Contacts

Libra Film Productions
52 Popa Soare St., 023 984, Bucharest
Romania
Tel: +40 213 266 480
Fax: +40 213 260 268
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.librafilm.net

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About the film

Color, DCP
International premiere

Section:	East of the West - Competition

Director:	Silviu Purcărete
Screenplay:	Silviu Purcărete
Dir. of Photography:	Adrian Silişteanu
Music:	Vasile Şirli
Editor:	Cătălin Cristuţiu
Producer:	Tudor Giurgiu
Production:	Libra Film
Cast:	Aron Dimeny, George Mihăiţă, Răzvan Vasilescu, Constantin Chiriac, Sorin Leoveanu, Ofelia Popii, Andi Ştefănescu
Contact:	Libra Film Productions

www:	www.undevalapalilula.ro

Guests

Tudor Giurgiu

Film Institution Rep., Producer

Silviu Purcărete

Film Director

Oana Bujgoi-Giurgiu

Producer

Aron Dimeny

Actor

George Mihaita

Actor

Dragos Buhagiar

Film Crew

Vasile Sirli

Film Crew