Ruxx

Romanian productions typically look like an x-ray of a specific, often exagerated trait of old-world Romanian society, one where young urbanites are either misrepresented or completely absent.

Ruxx finally feels relevant & relatable to us. It's inch-close to our reality and the first show I'd recommend for anyone looking to move or visit, wondering how it's like.

That's how we dress. Those are the places we hang out at. Those are our problems and that's how we handle them.

And low and behold, it's not that different from other places in the world. Turn on Spanish subtitles and you will relate as well.

Finally, a Romanian TV show that's not about a Romanian cliche, but about globally relevant people who just happen to live in Romania.

I loved it, I binged the whole series in one day and I can't wait to spread the word that this series is sooo unexpectedly good.

A fresh, modern, bright and smart collection of images and lines, an excellent cast and a vibrant picture of Bucharest in 2022.

Go see it, after many years we finally have a non dark, sad, bitter and self-pittying Romanian piece of cinema. And also the telenovela vibe is missing, thanks God.

Everything looks so real - this is the way we look, we dress, we speak, we act and relate to the others, in 2022 Bucharest. These are real problems people are facing in 2022 Bucharest.

Excellent, I hope there will be a season 2.

Full disclosure: I cam to to this series because of Alec Secareanu, the actor that plays Andrei in the series. I have followed him since God's Own Country and was excited to see his work in this format.

As a longtime avid consumer of films, a former theatre student, and a member of the LGBTQIA community, I am so in love with this series.

Firstly, a suggestion to viewers: opt for subtitles. I do NOT know what is up with the dubbing industry or who decided what voiceover actor goes with what character but, lord, just read the dialogue. The pitch of the voiceover actors are NOTHING like that of the actual cast and it is really jarring to me.

That said, I am very impressed with the way this series has chosen to tackle controversial and commonplace subjects alike. The script and the skillful work by the actors craft these issues without a sign of preachiness or excess. Whether it is the caregiving of a parent, relationship dynamics, or the very real problems of misogyny, bigotry and prejudice, or self discovery, each is handled with the honesty and worth it deserves. The plot unfolds like origami, intricate and surprising, each fold a new revelation.

The work is also succinct, in many ways. Things are not overexplained; histories are not exhaustively hashed out. The writer trusts the viewer to make those connections focusing on the larger storylines that move the plot forward.

To write this series, to include the subject matter in what is still a very conservative country, is, if not great work, BRAVE work.

Judge for yourselves.

First, I haven't seen Umbre, second here are my two cents.

I say this is Bucharest, at least a part of it. I say this movie - series make one think, question and feel. Some of the language is unnecessary vulgare and some of the scenes Americanized or westernized. But to be truly honest, this is, in my opinion, an honest and cynical representation up until a certain level of how the Romanians are trying to fit in in a modern yet not 100% identifiable version of life. There is a lot of confusion, diffusion, signs of corruption and chaos, powerplay and undergorund life which at first sight seem so random and remote, but they are part of our life, this is a good and uncomfortable reflection all together, especilly with its "kitsch"iness of how lots of us try and succed to fit in, in this new globalized world. Yes, it could have been more flattering in general for Romanians, but its purpose is to make us think and question... everything? Especially women's place and roles in the contemporary times. Not a fan of the new generalized trend of serving a dish of lessons regarding sex orietntation, but at least in this movie I see it as a pretext to challenge prejudices, to extend visions, to pt our tolerability and intelligence to a test.

Last but nit least, I really felt so many, many colours of emotions seeing Bucharest from up above and from a certain distance. A unique place of mixtures, versatility and eclectism (also indulgently embracing the ugly and beautiful of balcanical or not :) kitsch) of making its way, trying its best to "make" it in the absence of the the coherence or the leadership or proper systems which other places in the world benfit of.

So, where to start?

1. Bad acting! Almost every actor is like they are reading their lines from a book, basically no acting skills, apart from 2-3 actors who get the job done.

2. The lines! OMG they are so terrible. Most of the time, the lines are cringey AF. A lot of cursing is not necessary and placed horribly into the dialogs, THIS IS NOT HOW ROMANINS SPEAK. It makes it seem so unnatural, forced, tras de par in plm

3. The plot! Lame, everything is so lame.

This review is from a Romanian perspective. I've seen a lot of Romanian movies, this is by far the worst, truly terrible. At this point i am only watching it to see how low can it get.