this film another one receiving big rave reviews during 2014
won the golden bear award (best film) at the berlin film festival
and universal glowing praise for lead actress luminita gheorghiu
she in the opening scene bemoaning to her sister about her only son
mainly the way he treats her and the verbal abuse that comes with it
cornelia (mum) also not at all fond of son barbu's partner carmen
seems carmen is to blame for the bad mother-son relationship
cornelia seen chain-smoking, seems unhappy and is very uptight
cut to a happier scene of her with friends at her 60th birthday bash
various people introduced including high-up government officials
affluence abounds so it seems she is from the top end of society
she makes excuses for her son's absence and parties on anyway
next day her husband seems more circumspect to the son's attitude
their cleaner in common with the son is interrogated by cornelia
plied for specific details of his home life - she has no shame to ask
second-hand shoes offered to the maid as payment - but declined
a not very likeable person is emerging - the son may be justified
long scenes of cornelia poking around inside her son's apartment
every action played out fully - my first reaction - screen-time fill?
more likely the director's want to present (non) action realistically
we also see cornelia and husband in attendance at a small opera
3 people singing in a centered stage and given plenty of screen time
thinking - some exposure to romanian arts and culture on offer here
cornelia is summoned away by her sister - there's been an accident
barbu the driver of a car that has killed an errant freeway crosser
cornelia's maternal instincts kick in - or an opportunity to appease?
the parents show up at the police station barbu is being held at
she wastes no time asserting herself and questioning procedures
this our first sighting of barbu - he maintains a shocked silence
seems he was speeding in a risky road rage overtaking move
so charges are likely and therefore a life-changing incident
but cornelia has other ideas as she then calls in some favours
days pass as she wheels and deals - bribes, demands, pleads
a whatever-it-takes attitude to ensure her son is not charged
and with that an insight into the corrupt romanian system
the director seemingly intent on showing it for what it is
ditto the gaps between rich and poor with a visit by cornelia
this to the family of the boy killed - she lays on the sadness
her tears do seem false - she has an ulterior motive after all
this all despite barbu already asking her to keep out of his life
in the final scene barbu faces up to the father of the dead boy
cleverly framed in a rear-vision mirror - no words but they are ok
a brief hand-shake and with it the suggestion compassion is the foil
a simple act more effective than everything his mum tried to enact
so - mother/smother not recommended - let the children grow free
pozitia copilului the romanian title - translated - position the child
thus implying there is another person doing some maneuvering
and to me a far more accurate title for the content of the film
a case of the meaning of the title being lost in translation?
but a minor quibble - still a seriously good serious film...
