Reconstruction

dir. Lucian Pintilie, Romania 1968, 106 min.

One of the most important works in Romanian cinema, Reconstruction delivers a powerful critique of totalitarian reality. It tells the story of two young men who, after a drunken brawl, are forced to reenact their actions on camera as part of a “preventive” reconstruction. What starts as a seemingly straightforward staging quickly transforms into a harrowing exploration of power and manipulation. With its New Wave language and modernist form, Reconstruction remains a strikingly relevant and emotionally resonant film.