Philanthropy (2002)

I don't believe this movie was made to win a prize. I also don't believe the cast tried to impress some critics that would give some high ranking in a list, somewhere in the world. It's a movie for romanians, more precisely for the hearts of romanian people. It's a healing movie, for if you understand your wounds, you can be your own medic. It's not a "see once" movie and you can't give a mark based on a singular experience. There is hidden beauty in it and that is revealed based on your state of mind. A scene can make you cry sometimes. The same can make you laugh a day latter. Or it can make feel ashamed. Or it can make you feel proud. Or infuriated. Depending on what your soul need, this movie gives you. Of course, some of the dialogs are meaningless for those who didn't grew up with the songs, words and attitude in the movie. But it doesn't matter if this movie took the Oscar or not because it took the "Oscar" of my heart.Thank you.

I can understand reviewers from Romania who seem to be quite proud for this movie, because something similar has happened in Greece during the last years (very similar example: "Politiki Kouzina"). When you are used to very low standards of film-making and suddenly a movie is up to western standards in terms of direction, photography and production, you tend to overemphasize on the technical quality and diminish the importance of the plot, the characters' depth and the acting. And here, I'm afraid, lie Filantropica weak points. This is by no means a social satire. It is too shallow for that. The protagonist (although brilliantly played by Mircea Diaconu) is just a comic figure and we cannot feel empathy for his situation. The main gimmicks are too unrealistic to be believed and the comic value is quickly worn out.Nevertheless, Filantropica is an enjoyable Romanian offering and you won't regret having seen it. Just don't expect something of a 8.7 caliber.

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.

Director Nae Caranfil wasn't short of Romanian anecdotes and stories before the screening of his fourth feature film when I saw it at the Palm Springs International Film Festival: Q: What's the difference between a Romania pessimist and optimist; A: "The pessimist says, 'Things couldn't possibly get worse;' the optimist says 'Oh yes they can.'" And when those attending revealed their knowledge of his native country was confined to the birthplace of Dracula, we were assured, with a knowing grin, that the film to follow would be "a dark, hopeless, miserable comedy." Well, three out of four isn't bad!Using stray dogs as metaphorical bookends the film purports to send up greed, education, governments and a host of social ills using charitable scamming as its glue. Unfortunately, in today's climate of real stories of charities making front page news through scandal or mismanagement the plot's major joke (fake married couple on the 10th anniversary in expensive restaurant, have no cash, big scene with on-the-take-waiter, do-gooder patrons pay off the inflated bill) seems more of a documentary than fiction, thus killing the satire.But the hero as failed writer provides a much better vehicle for black humour that sets up the funniest moments: the railway poet who recites for vodka, only to reveal that he has just two poems and neither of them are his; and wonderfully believable Philanthropy Foundation where writing the lines the for percentage-based fund-beggars on the cash-only payroll brings in a steady flow of charitable donations. Their motto is bang on: "An outstretched hand with no story to tell doesn't work." And so its savvy chairman (Gheorghe Dinica) writes the scripts that include a violinist (who's never played a note but has been coached on how to hold the instrument) that has given up playing in his despair (best to beg near government culture institutions) and climaxes with the beating literature teacher by day Ovidu (played with charming naivety by Florin Calinescu) which leads to a television appearance where a special account is set up for the public to contribute to this unfortunate couple whose only crime was to try and have one night out for their anniversary. Even the sub-plot of the literature teacher trying to seduce one of his most belligerent student's sister is filled with false fronts shallowness. But, it forces him to agree to the scamming so as to have the cash to artificially improve his lifestyle and attempt to bed her when, inevitably, his deception is revealed just on the point on entry. But like the too-forgiving Philip in Of Human Bondage Ovidu keeps going back for more, finally stealing from the foundation to pay the debts of his wayward student only to discover he's given the dough to the sister that wasn't (quelle suprise!). Oh well, at least he gets to keep the girl he's been fictitiously married to for the past decade, forever proving that lies can be lived into reality!Still, the film does provoke thought and is blessed with a knowing camera and a gypsy-esque score composed and performed by Marius Mihalache that adds much to the pace.But at our screening when the film broke-just fifteen minutes from the end-there were not a few of us who could have left then and there with enough of the story resolved to our satisfaction. However, being charitable, we dutifully stayed until the last ask was made.