The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

One of the most astonishing cinematic discoveries of recent years, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu is a gripping account of an ailing man's debilitating journey through the Romanian healthcare establishment. James Quandt of Cinematheque Ontario claims that "by turns funny, bitter, and moving, Lazarescu appears to be that rare thing: a contemporary classic." Almost taking place in real time, the beautifully acted film combines black comedy and unbounded humanism, recalling the epic documentaries of Frederick Wiseman and the social dramas of Eric Rohmer, as well as the nightmarish travelogues of Kafka and Dante. (35mm, 154 mins.)