Chicago International Film Festival
CHICAGO -- Chicago International Film Festival juror Florinda Bolkan might notice a strong similarity between "Maria" and "A Brief Vacation", one of Vittorio De Sica's gems, in which she starred as an overwhelmed Italian housewife.
"Maria" is a Romanian version of Bolkan's film
it tells the story of a woman struggling with seven children and barely enduring an unemployed, abusive husband. A searing glimpse into the degrading poverty of postcommunist Eastern Europe, "Maria" is a heart-rending film of one woman's struggle to provide for her family. Although it struck strong chords in Chicago with its large Eastern European population, "Maria"'s domestic life span seems limited to the festival circuit or an independent cable channel. It won three major awards at the Locarno Film Festival, including best actress for Diana Dumbrava, who plays the titular character.
In this neorealistic-style saga, Maria's husband is laid off at the balloon factory, and instead of a final paycheck, he is paid off in balloons. In the country's crazed economy, that surreal absurdity is a horrible cruelty. Ultimately, she turns to prostitution to make ends meet. "Maria" is a gripping film, the story of one woman's valor in providing for her family. No mere sociology tract, director Calin Peter Netzer taps into the resiliency of his characters, never allowing the film to strain with political melodrama but rather to reverberate with their individual valor.
CHICAGO -- Chicago International Film Festival juror Florinda Bolkan might notice a strong similarity between "Maria" and "A Brief Vacation", one of Vittorio De Sica's gems, in which she starred as an overwhelmed Italian housewife.
"Maria" is a Romanian version of Bolkan's film
it tells the story of a woman struggling with seven children and barely enduring an unemployed, abusive husband. A searing glimpse into the degrading poverty of postcommunist Eastern Europe, "Maria" is a heart-rending film of one woman's struggle to provide for her family. Although it struck strong chords in Chicago with its large Eastern European population, "Maria"'s domestic life span seems limited to the festival circuit or an independent cable channel. It won three major awards at the Locarno Film Festival, including best actress for Diana Dumbrava, who plays the titular character.
In this neorealistic-style saga, Maria's husband is laid off at the balloon factory, and instead of a final paycheck, he is paid off in balloons. In the country's crazed economy, that surreal absurdity is a horrible cruelty. Ultimately, she turns to prostitution to make ends meet. "Maria" is a gripping film, the story of one woman's valor in providing for her family. No mere sociology tract, director Calin Peter Netzer taps into the resiliency of his characters, never allowing the film to strain with political melodrama but rather to reverberate with their individual valor.
Chicago International Film Festival
CHICAGO -- Chicago International Film Festival juror Florinda Bolkan might notice a strong similarity between "Maria" and "A Brief Vacation", one of Vittorio De Sica's gems, in which she starred as an overwhelmed Italian housewife.
"Maria" is a Romanian version of Bolkan's film
it tells the story of a woman struggling with seven children and barely enduring an unemployed, abusive husband. A searing glimpse into the degrading poverty of postcommunist Eastern Europe, "Maria" is a heart-rending film of one woman's struggle to provide for her family. Although it struck strong chords in Chicago with its large Eastern European population, "Maria"'s domestic life span seems limited to the festival circuit or an independent cable channel. It won three major awards at the Locarno Film Festival, including best actress for Diana Dumbrava, who plays the titular character.
In this neorealistic-style saga, Maria's husband is laid off at the balloon factory, and instead of a final paycheck, he is paid off in balloons. In the country's crazed economy, that surreal absurdity is a horrible cruelty. Ultimately, she turns to prostitution to make ends meet. "Maria" is a gripping film, the story of one woman's valor in providing for her family. No mere sociology tract, director Calin Peter Netzer taps into the resiliency of his characters, never allowing the film to strain with political melodrama but rather to reverberate with their individual valor.
CHICAGO -- Chicago International Film Festival juror Florinda Bolkan might notice a strong similarity between "Maria" and "A Brief Vacation", one of Vittorio De Sica's gems, in which she starred as an overwhelmed Italian housewife.
"Maria" is a Romanian version of Bolkan's film
it tells the story of a woman struggling with seven children and barely enduring an unemployed, abusive husband. A searing glimpse into the degrading poverty of postcommunist Eastern Europe, "Maria" is a heart-rending film of one woman's struggle to provide for her family. Although it struck strong chords in Chicago with its large Eastern European population, "Maria"'s domestic life span seems limited to the festival circuit or an independent cable channel. It won three major awards at the Locarno Film Festival, including best actress for Diana Dumbrava, who plays the titular character.
In this neorealistic-style saga, Maria's husband is laid off at the balloon factory, and instead of a final paycheck, he is paid off in balloons. In the country's crazed economy, that surreal absurdity is a horrible cruelty. Ultimately, she turns to prostitution to make ends meet. "Maria" is a gripping film, the story of one woman's valor in providing for her family. No mere sociology tract, director Calin Peter Netzer taps into the resiliency of his characters, never allowing the film to strain with political melodrama but rather to reverberate with their individual valor.
- 11/12/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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