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Philanthropique

Original title: Filantropica
  • 2002
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Mircea Diaconu in Philanthropique (2002)
Ovidiu, a high-school teacher looking for an extra buck, finds an unexpected way to earn easy money.
Play trailer1:05
1 Video
5 Photos
SatireComedyDrama

Ovidiu, a high-school teacher looking for an extra buck, finds an unexpected way to earn easy money.Ovidiu, a high-school teacher looking for an extra buck, finds an unexpected way to earn easy money.Ovidiu, a high-school teacher looking for an extra buck, finds an unexpected way to earn easy money.

  • Director
    • Nae Caranfil
  • Writer
    • Nae Caranfil
  • Stars
    • Mircea Diaconu
    • Gheorghe Dinica
    • Mara Nicolescu
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.4/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nae Caranfil
    • Writer
      • Nae Caranfil
    • Stars
      • Mircea Diaconu
      • Gheorghe Dinica
      • Mara Nicolescu
    • 33User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:05
    Trailer

    Photos4

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast18

    Edit
    Mircea Diaconu
    Mircea Diaconu
    • Ovidiu Gorea
    Gheorghe Dinica
    Gheorghe Dinica
    • Pavel Puiut
    Mara Nicolescu
    • Miruna
    Viorica Voda
    • Diana Dobrovicescu
    Marius Florea Vizante
    Marius Florea Vizante
    • Simpaticul
    Florin Zamfirescu
    • Poetul Garii de Nord
    Cristian Gheorghe
    • Robert Dobrovicescu
    Florin Calinescu
    • Self
    Constantin Draganescu
    • Tatal
    Monica Ghiuta
    • Mama
    Ovidiu Niculescu
    Ovidiu Niculescu
    • Ospatarul
    Valentin Popescu
    Valentin Popescu
    • Recuperator #1
    Nae Caranfil
    Nae Caranfil
    • Karaoke singer
    Gabriela Bobes
    Marius Capota
    • Baiat de Baiat
    George Lungoci
    • Reporter
    Marius Rizea
    Anamaria Marinca
    Anamaria Marinca
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Nae Caranfil
    • Writer
      • Nae Caranfil
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    8.414.3K
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    Featured reviews

    8siderite

    This movie may have turned me into a Romanian movie viewer!

    I am used to Romanian movies being dark, verbally violent, poorly acted, poorly directed, wanting to shock, yet saying nothing. Most of them are like that, but not this one. This was actually a dark comedy with almost no violence. The threads of the story do end in despair, but not in tragedy, giving the viewer that "jigsaw puzzle completed" feeling.

    The acting of the main characters was superb, even the extras did their job well; the script contains a too complex and interesting story to be told here, all I can say is that it's a great tale; the music gives a Romanian feel to the movie and nicely selected for this particular idea; the directing has to be good, since almost none of the actors slipped, none of the scenes made me say "Cut" :) and the movie carried me from the first scene to the last with no discrepancies.

    This movie may have turned my pessimistic view of Romanian film-making around, along with "Asfalt Tango", which is a movie of the same caliber and quality (with the same great main actor ) and I am looking forward to good, watchable movies like these two, with great and original stories.
    8Didier-Becu

    FILANTROPICA (DIDIER BECU)

    Are you laughing or are you crying? I dunno and this realistic view on today's life in some east European country (Romania) makes you aware that the power is in hands of those who are related to the mob. "Filantropica" tells the story of an ordinary man, a schoolteacher who writes some books in his free time (without success). He earns enough to keep himself alive but from the moment he wants something out of line (sympathy for a gorgeous looking girl) he has just one route : following the route of crime. "Filantropica" shows perfect how the mob is involved in everything, from televisionshows till the beggar on the street and it might be a very hard movie, it's a brilliant masterpiece of today's society. Absolute must!
    10halftildead

    Spechless

    By saying this is the best Romanian movie I don't really say much about it, because there aren't any good Romanian movies, really (with few exceptions). But I can tell you that this is one of the best movies I have ever seen, and I have seen many. Not only it makes you laugh, but it makes you think. A little bit like American Beauty. The story is well put together and the acting quite impressive - gives you a strong real life impression. A school teacher needs money so he can be around the sister of one of his trouble-making students. His book (just released on the market) didn't have any buyers, so he need other funding sources. You'll see what and how. Overall, a movie not to miss.
    10Alice_Fluture

    Best Romanian film ever made

    I had the exquisite privilege to see the film's premiere and since then I've been to see it five more times. It is the best Romanian film ever made. From the script writing (plot) to acting, costumes, camera movements, editing, everything has so high a quality it acquires international value. The disadvantage of it being so Romanian may diminish a lot of its humor for foreign viewers, but there is something universal about humor that makes the bittersweet truth reach the humanity of each member of the audience rather than their nationality. It is a sour sweet satire of the contemporary Romanian society and underworld of which fiction one begins to doubt as credits start rolling.

    This is for those who don't know how the director looks like: Nae Caranfil has a cameo as a Karaoke singer. Does the foreign audience applaud when there is a good scene or when the director appears in a cameo, like they did here?

    What else? The Romanian film critics had designated "Filantropica" as representative for our country in Best Foreign Picture pre-nominations for the Academy Awards. Unfortunately, they didn't know much about publicity and didn't even come up with all the necessary data for the sites & all, but this does not diminish the film's value and the excuse may be that the event was a first time ever.
    10spiritualwolf

    Close to perfect...

    ...and an excellent commentary on the state of society not only in Romania but in the rest of the world. There are some references, small, almost hidden, to the World Bank and the EU, that help you to see the parallels between what's happening to the protagonist on a personal level and what's happening to Romania on a national level.

    I've spent a lot of time in Romania over the last few years, and have wanted to tell people I know here in the UK about what it's really like over there - Filantropica gives me a chance to make what I say come to life. The portrayal of the rich, useless 'students', in particular, was so close to reality I just couldn't stop laughing.

    ....and the dogs at the beginning and the end are just, well, perfect!

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Nae Caranfil, the director, does a cameo in most of his films. In Filantropica he appears in the Karaoke scene.
    • Quotes

      Robert Dobrovicescu: Hey teach, I heard some talk about booting me out. What's up?

      Ovidiu Gorea: You must've done something.

      Robert Dobrovicescu: But you stick up for me! You're my buddy, right?

      Ovidiu Gorea: What can I do, if you keep looking for trouble?

      Robert Dobrovicescu: Let me spell it out for you. If they boot me out and you're on their side, you won't be my buddy anymore. Then I come see you... and slice you like salami. Fair? Sounds fair to me.

      Ovidiu Gorea: I'll think about it.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Closer to the Moon (2014)

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    FAQ

    • How long is Philanthropy?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 5, 2002 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Romania
      • France
    • Language
      • Romanian
    • Also known as
      • Philanthropy
    • Filming locations
      • Liceul Miguel de Cervantes, Bucharest, Romania(school)
    • Production companies
      • Domino Film
      • MACT Productions
      • Media Pro Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,795
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

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    Mircea Diaconu in Philanthropique (2002)
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