The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

dir. Cristi Puiu, Romania 2005, 150 min.

This landmark film marked the beginning of the Romanian New Wave and remains one of its most important works. It follows an elderly man who calls an ambulance one night and embarks on a dramatic journey through various hospitals, where bureaucracy and indifference gradually seal his fate. With its hypnotic realism and austere aesthetic, the film offers a piercing critique of the healthcare system and a haunting portrait of human isolation.