Malmkrog

With impeccable framing of each scene, both in terms of the material environment and the framing -classically precise- by the camera, Puiu dares to film a dense but rewarding theological conversation informed by philosophy, history and the subtleties of upper class politesse. The discussion itself is drawn from the work of Vladimir Solovyev -who in Russia and Eastern Europe is as central a thinker as Kierkegaard in the Wést-, often remembered as the friend of Dostoyevsky and the noble campaigner against antisemitism in Russia. Laced with irony (Puiu's), it offers a meditation on the nature of good and evil. But this is not merely a conversation filmed. The filmic construction of each scene through camera perspective, the bodily language of the actors, the choreography of servants and aristocrats, all combine to produce a deeply moving fresco of an instant in time, a lull before the impending storm which would sweep the characters and their world away. Sublime.

If you wanna go through Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment in less than 4 hours, this is your chance.

People who write about "wasting of time" simply don't have appropriate optics just yet. My advice - stop watching Transformers.

It is pure beauty. A really nice movie with a good director and fine actors.

In high school years, I read the book of Soloviov. The impression was powerful and, after decades, its taste, the state are far to be altered.

The film selects its audience - this is the premise in its case. For dialogues, themes, for the three hours long, for the acting and for the atmosphere on set, for nuances and grace of silences, for perspectives and for relation between characters.

In fact, its virtue is be more than an exceptional film and, maybe, the masterpiece of Cristian Puiu filmography, but a precious seed for the viewer mind, return to youth lectures and to old fears and doubts.

In some measure, a film for teenagers. Indeed, old teenagers.

But just perfect for them.