The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

Of the Romanian New Wave films that I have had the honor of seeing so far, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu impressed me the most and it is a film that I would like to revisit. It is a highly unsettling drama that gives the impression of a documentary, simply human dying in real-time caused by human indifference, bureaucracy, cowardice, and professional self-absorption. It strongly reminds me of the techniques used by Italian neorealists in the 1950s. Mr. Lazarescu, with his rapidly deteriorating health condition, travels from one doctor to another and they, shielded by regulations and objective obstacles, toss him around like a potato. However, it is not quite perfect due to the uncomfortable feeling that the film evokes. Overall impression: 85%. (03/12/2011)