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IMDbPro

Closer to the Moon

  • 2014
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
Vera Farmiga and Mark Strong in Closer to the Moon (2014)
Trailer for Closer to the Moon
Play trailer2:17
1 Video
30 Photos
True CrimeComedyCrimeDrama

A Romanian police officer teams up with a small crew of old friends from the World War II Jewish Resistance to pull off a heist by convincing everyone at the scene of the crime that they are... Read allA Romanian police officer teams up with a small crew of old friends from the World War II Jewish Resistance to pull off a heist by convincing everyone at the scene of the crime that they are only filming a movie.A Romanian police officer teams up with a small crew of old friends from the World War II Jewish Resistance to pull off a heist by convincing everyone at the scene of the crime that they are only filming a movie.

  • Director
    • Nae Caranfil
  • Writer
    • Nae Caranfil
  • Stars
    • Vera Farmiga
    • Mark Strong
    • Harry Lloyd
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    4.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nae Caranfil
    • Writer
      • Nae Caranfil
    • Stars
      • Vera Farmiga
      • Mark Strong
      • Harry Lloyd
    • 20User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 47Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Closer to the Moon
    Trailer 2:17
    Closer to the Moon

    Photos29

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    + 24
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    Top cast78

    Edit
    Vera Farmiga
    Vera Farmiga
    • Alice
    Mark Strong
    Mark Strong
    • Max
    Harry Lloyd
    Harry Lloyd
    • Virgil
    Anton Lesser
    Anton Lesser
    • Holban
    Joe Armstrong
    Joe Armstrong
    • Razvan
    Christian McKay
    Christian McKay
    • Iorgu
    Tim Plester
    Tim Plester
    • Dumi
    Darrell D'Silva
    Darrell D'Silva
    • Minister
    David de Keyser
    David de Keyser
    • Moritz
    Frances Cuka
    Frances Cuka
    • Sarah
    Marcin Walewski
    Marcin Walewski
    • Mirel
    Allan Corduner
    Allan Corduner
    • Flaviu
    Monica Barladeanu
    Monica Barladeanu
    • Sonia
    • (as Monica Birladeanu)
    Paul Jesson
    Paul Jesson
    • Studio Manager
    John Henshaw
    John Henshaw
    • Judge
    Martin Hancock
    Martin Hancock
    • Prosecutor
    • (as Martin Hencock)
    Ed Gaughan
    • Defense Attorney
    Martin McDougall
    Martin McDougall
    • Prison Commander
    • Director
      • Nae Caranfil
    • Writer
      • Nae Caranfil
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    6.74.4K
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    Featured reviews

    10cekadah

    Excellent ! ! !

    It is always gratifying to find a film you do not know anything about and it becomes one of your favorite movies.

    Director/writer Nae Caranfil has taken an obscure incident in Soviet occupied Romania in the late 1950's and has offered it up to the 21st century cinema to give us a most pertinent message for today's world.

    That message is not robbing the bank! The message is to be found in how the system (society) can single out certain groups and marginalize them into committing a desperate act --- and not really have any reason to do this act but to just fight back.

    The entire cast is perfect in their individual roles, the script is intelligent, the photography beautiful! This film should a 10 in anyones book!
    5andreeeei

    His story

    In reality, something happened. Some people have been executed without being guilty. They have been forced to play a role in their fake trials and all ended in their execution. A false history was created by some top authorities in order to teach some kind of a lesson to the people that worked in the communist regime structures. This movie was not made for the public. This false reenactment most probably inspired Lucian Pintilie to create a cinematographic masterpiece, Reconstruction (1968). Add to that the fact that Pintilie's film has been done in those crazy times, when you could have gotten into big trouble for criticizing the regime.

    Now, here comes Caranfil, a great director, that takes the original story and twists it once again, turning these people into courageous heroes that opposed the regime. They get into a suicidal mission just to send a message. How much believable is that? Does this bring justice to the original six persecuted people? I'm not sure about that. There's a documentary, called Marele Jaf Comunist (The Great Communist Robbery) that reveals more of the true story. Anyway, a drama is not supposed to tell the real story, and that's OK, but in this case, it's a pity that some people will take it as history.

    The real six people have been persecuted in communist style with fake trials and five of them were killed. They were Jews and they were high professionals. Moreover, ironically, they had a history in participating successfully in bringing the communism to Romania. So, why did the regime chose them in order to teach a lesson to the other communists, and probably to the Jewish communists?

    The movie might leave you with the impression that all Jews were persecuted under the communism. Many of them they were. The Russian occupation brought suffering to all kinds of Romanian citizens. But many of the Jews supported the regime since the beginning.

    I know that many of the Jews have been disappointed by the communism that they previously believed in. Most of the Jews went to Israel sometimes in the Sixties, but also, many Jews supported the communist repression, leading to massive deportation, imprisonment and execution of hundreds of thousands of Romanian citizens. You will not see this in the movie.
    10andreea_bur94

    Romanian director wins BIG

    I was so completely entertained by this little film. I understand the historical data is highly accurate and appropriate for the Romanians that have lived in that exact period - which I respect so much . The amazing cinematography traps you along with power-house performances from Farmiga and Strong, the story is simply amazing and unique ( i think we all crave for unique stories nowadays). Caranfil's directing took me by surprise because I have never expected this level of craft from a director also trapped in a country where films at this scale are only a dream. I loved every single one of the shots and the editing was also amazing. I really hope Caranfil will make more movies like this - keeping the amazing dark, funny and artistic tone. ( See The Rest is Silence - it maintains that unique blend of tones ). One of the best non- American films i've seen in the last couple of years.
    6deloudelouvain

    Based on a true story but doesnt look very trueful.

    Although Closer To The Moon is based on true events some scenes in the movie just seem not very plausible. Those scenes, that are quite unbelievable and make no sense at all, made this movie lesser good than it should have been. I really doubt the 'gangsters' were that happy in those times. In the end credits you see the actual footage of their propaganda movie and nobody seemed happy there, much more realistic than the whole movie is trying to show. The cast is really top, all actors did a good job with their respective characters, so that was the best thing about this movie and that was what makes it worth watching. Plus the excellent directing from Nae Caranfil, not so much for his writing though. Closer To The Moon isn't bad for a one time viewing.
    8catspeech

    quirky fun film

    Enjoyed watching this last night, good fun and a little less ordinary . well worth a watch

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Nae Caranfil on the historical background and his research: "...usually I don't do very much research. I rely on my imagination but this time, I tried to get every bit of information I could. The best thing I did, in a way, was to get hold of some Israeli Romanian language magazines published in Tel Aviv where they made a whole file over three or four editions of the events with people that were remembering things in very different ways. So, I got very different angles on this story and then, aside from the documentary film [Camarades gangsters, levez-vous (2004)] made by Alexandru Solomon, I saw another documentary film [Reconstruction (2002)] of which nobody knew in Romania, made by the woman's granddaughter [Irene Lusztig]. She's living in New York and she came to Bucharest in 1999 and made a documentary about her grandmother." [2014]
    • Quotes

      Title Card: During World War II, the anti-Nazi resistance in Romania was mainly organized by the Communist Party.

      Title Card: A number of young Jews joined the cause, believing their freedom would come from the Soviet Union.

      Title Card: The Red Army didn't free, but enslaved the country, along with the whole Eastern and Central Europe. An iron-fist regime was installed.

      Title Card: Former Jewish partisans became part of the governing elite.

      Title Card: Their positions started to erode until, by the last years of the 50's, they were being systematically removed from positions of power and influence.

      Title Card: Based on a true story.

    • Crazy credits
      This film is based on a "propaganda reenactment made in 1960." The original reconstruction is shown alongside the major part of the end credits.
    • Connections
      Edited from Reconstituirea (1959)
    • Soundtracks
      It's Magic
      Music by Sammy Cahn

      Lyrics by Jule Styne

      Performed by Loredana Groza

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    FAQ

    • How long is Closer to the Moon?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 7, 2014 (Romania)
    • Countries of origin
      • Romania
      • United States
      • Italy
      • Poland
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ближе к Луне
    • Filming locations
      • Bucharest, Romania
    • Production companies
      • Agresywna Banda
      • Denis Friedman Productions
      • Mandragora Movies
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €4,400,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Vera Farmiga and Mark Strong in Closer to the Moon (2014)
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