Filantropica (2002)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Nae Caranfil

Writer:

Nae Caranfil (writer)

Release Date:

15 March 2002 (Romania)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Ovidiu, a high-school teacher looking for an extra buck, finds an unexpected way to earn easy money. |

Plot Keywords:

Romania | Eastern Europe | Money | Dating | Teacher

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Mircea Diaconu	...	Ovidiu Gorea
Gheorghe Dinica	...	Pavel Puiut
Mara Nicolescu	...	Miruna
Viorica Voda	...	Diana Dobrovicescu
Marius Florea Vizante	...	Simpaticul
Florin Zamfirescu	...	Poetul Garii de Nord
Cristian Gheorghe	...	Robert Dobrovicescu
Florin Calinescu	...	Himself
Constantin Draganescu	...	Tatal
Monica Ghiuta	...	Mama
Ovidiu Niculescu	...	Ospatarul
Valentin Popescu	...	Recuperator #1
Nae Caranfil	...	Karaoke singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gabriela Bobes
Marius Rizea

Also Known As:

Philanthropique (France)
Philanthropy (International: English title)

Runtime:

110 min | France:113 min

Country:

Romania | France

Language:

Romanian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | France:U

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Domino Film

Movie Connections:

References Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)

Close to perfect...

...and an excellent commentary on the state of society not only in Romania but in the rest of the world. There are some references, small, almost hidden, to the World Bank and the EU, that help you to see the parallels between what's happening to the protagonist on a personal level and what's happening to Romania on a national level.

I've spent a lot of time in Romania over the last few years, and have wanted to tell people I know here in the UK about what it's really like over there - Filantropica gives me a chance to make what I say come to life. The portrayal of the rich, useless 'students', in particular, was so close to reality I just couldn't stop laughing.

....and the dogs at the beginning and the end are just, well, perfect!