Monsters. / Monștri.
Romania 2019
Directed by Marius Olteanu, drama, 116 min, eng subtitles, 16+
Written by Marius Olteanu
With Judith State, Cristian Popa, Alexandru Potocean, Șerban Pavlu, Dorina Lazăr
Dana and Arthur, an architect and an actor in their forties, have been married for almost 10 years. They are a couple that family and friends seem to love when they are together, but would despise if they decided to separate because of their needs, their beliefs, their life options, their inner monsters. The day comes for them to decide if letting go is the biggest proof of love.
An intimate study in relationships, social pressure, insecurity, compromise and painful revelations, all in an urban setting, that cinemagoers everywhere might easily identify with, Marius Olteanu’s first feature film pieces together the puzzle of this married couple, after having told the story of each of them, over roughly the same timeframe, in a square format. The film explores the clash between social values and the individual choice via bisexuality, the rejection of motherhood, and challenges the traditional concepts of love.
Awards:
Berlinale - Berlin IFF 2019 (Forum); Karlovy Vary IFF 2019 (Another View)
Sofia IFF 2019 (Competition, Grand Prix for Best Feature Film)