Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
depicts a fully nude (and anatomically correct but not particu-
larly well-endowed) Roman emperor Trajan holding a wolf to
symbolise the synthesis of Roman and Dacian cultures. It pro-
voked derision on all sides, but tellingly has emerged as the
city's most-photographed work of art.
»
Death of Mr Lăzărescu
(Cristi Puiu)
»
Boogie
(Radu Muntean)
»
Happiest Girl in the World
(Radu Jude)
CINEMA: THE ROMANIAN 'NEW WAVE'
Romanian film has not traditionally commanded worldwide attention, but that changed 10 years ago with the
emergence of a brilliant younger generation of directors making films in a style that has come to be known as the
Romanian 'New Wave'. While the films differ greatly in theme, they share a low-budget, low-key, hyper-realistic
aesthetic that feels refreshing at a time when much of world cinema is dominated by big-budget blockbusters.
One of the early big hits was director Cristi Puiu's (b 1967)
Death of Mr Lăzărescu
in 2005. That film tells the
tragi-comic story of an old man and his futile efforts to get hospital care in Romania's dysfunctional medical sys-
tem. It won the top prize at Cannes for young and upcoming directors.
That was followed up in 2007 by Cristian Mungiu's (b 1968) amazing
Four Months, Three Weeks and Two
Days
. Set in Ceauşescu-era Romania, the film explores the frightening world of backstreet abortions, but more
generally the limits of friendship and the inability of society to cope with basic problems. It won the Palme d'Or
at Cannes for best film.
Other well-known directors working in this style include the late Cristian Nemescu (1979-2006), who was tra-
gically killed in a car crash, Corneliu Porumboiu (b 1975) and Radu Muntean (b 1971).
One other recent film has won numerous international awards, but is not normally regarded as part of the 'New
Wave'. Andrei Ujică's
Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu
, from 2010, tells a convincing story of the former
dictator's descent into madness using nothing more than hours and hours of official footage, edited and spliced to-
gether. It's mesmerising.
Folk Culture
Romanian folk traditions have come under increasing threat from modern life, but remain
surprisingly strong, particularly in Maramureş, parts of Transylvania and in the western
region of Wallachia, called Oltenia. Folk crafts sit alongside the fine arts and have exerted
strong influence over the centuries on Romanian painting, sculpture and music.
Arts & Crafts
Folk culture continues to thrive in traditional crafts such as pottery making, weaving and
woodworking. Romanian pottery is incredibly diverse. Materials and patterns vary ac-
cording to the area where the pottery was made. The ethnographic museum in Craiova has
