Register

    Cristian Mungiu Takes A Village To Cannes, Probes Us-Vs.-Them Crisis In “R.M.N.”

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1803 Views
    Orsolya Moldovan, from left, Marin Grigore, Macrina Barladeanu, director Cristian Mungiu, Judith State, and Maria Dragus pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'R.M.N.' at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

    Cristian Mungiu's Cannes Film Festival entry "R.M.N." is set in an unnamed mountainous Transylvanian village in Romania, but the conflicts of ethnocentricity, racism and nationalism that permeate the multi-ethnic town could take place almost anywhere.

    Of all the films competing for the top Palme d'Or prize at Cannes, none may be quite as of the moment as "R.M.N." The movie, using a Romanian microcosm, captures the us-vs-them battles that have played out across Europe and beyond, wherever immigration and national identities have collided.

    Mungiu, the celebrated Romanian filmmaker of the landmark 2007 abortion drama "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," has long been accustomed to his films being written off as grim portraits of a faraway Eastern Europe. It's a caricature he rejects, especially when it comes to "R.M.N."

    "Whenever journalists interpret that it's yet again another somber painting of this country, well, it's not about that country — or not only about that country," Mungiu told reporters Sunday. "It's good to check your own elections in your own countries."

    When a local bakery in need of workers — most of the town's men have gone abroad to find work — hires a few men from Sri Lanka, a Romanian village's already complicated mix of ethnicities — Romanian, Hungarian, German — turn increasingly volatile.

    But "R.M.N.," which features a powerhouse 17-minute single shot of a contentious town meeting, from the start teases at the question of who, exactly, is an outsider and who gets to define tradition. In the end, even the village's local bears could be said to have their say.

    "What is tradition? We do something because someone did this before. But why precisely do we do is this?" Mungiu said. "If you dig deep down, it's a way of fighting back the fear you have of something. It's a way of unleashing these violent impulses that you have."

    "I'm sorry to say this, but we are a very, very violent species of animal. And we need very, very little to identify an enemy as other," added Mungiu. "You can see this today in the war in Ukraine."

    By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

    Category:News
    Tags:Cannes Film FestivalCristian MungiuR.M.N.

    Director Ayse Altinok Joins Good Times For U.S. Commercial Representation

    Tuesday, November 12, 2024

    Director and writer Ayse Altinok has joined commercial production company Good Times for U.S. representation. Altinok has directed campaigns for Nike, Horizon Milk, Larabar, Jose Cuervo, Unilever, Mavi Jeans, Boots, Lumene, and more.

    A former art director at Wieden + Kennedy in Amsterdam and Portland, she approaches each project with careful consideration, analyzing the end goal as a first step and uncovering meaningful moments along the way. Her work features a cinematic, dreamlike quality and elevated aesthetic.

    “Having the right chemistry and karma is very powerful and that’s what attracted me to Good Times, and also timing,” said Altinok. “It’s a place where I can continue to push myself as a filmmaker and try new things, whether it’s for a traditional commercial spot or a high concept art project and everything in between.”

    “I’ve worked with Ayse for 20 years and she’s super talented. She’s great at finding gems in stories that would otherwise be overlooked, and her aesthetic is phenomenal,” noted Bernadette Spear, executive producer at Good Times. “She can also empathize with creatives, because she’s lived in that world and understands what our clients face and knows how to support their vision.”

    Throughout her career, Altinok’s work has won many industry accolades, including awards from The One Show, Clio, Art Directors Club, AICP, and the ANDYs. In 2016, she was nominated for a D&AD Next Director Award for her short film A Day at the Mall Reminds Me of America, a motion poem. Her first short film, 2009’s Hortum was an official selection of 11 film festivals worldwide and won the Special Jury Prize for Best Drama at the Amsterdam Film Festival.

    Outside of her short... Read More

    MySHOOT Profiles


    Add A Comment