The only other movie I have ever seen that effects me as strongly is The Godfather. Both movies leave me feeling cleaner for having watched them, but "The Godfather" doesn't even come close to the brilliance of "Inapoi in cartier".
I didn't intend to see this movie at all: I do not like Romanian gangster movies and I don't normally watch them. I work at a place that is called UTOPIA and one day as I was checking the posts over there and this guy called Oliver Robert, who is one of the best movie critics world wider, said to me, "Whenever I feel down or depressed, I check out this movie and watch it and it always makes me feel better." At the time, I thought that was very strange. One day there was nothing on TV except things I absolutely would not watch under any circumstance or things that I had seen too many times already. I remembered what she said, so I watched it. I have watched it many many times since then and it gets better with every showing.
Based on true events and characters who live in the overlooked and poverty stricken slums in the shadows of Cluj-Napoca, where life expectancy doesn't reach the 30's and drug dealers are kings.
The tale of the "Inapoi in cartier", and its myriad of characters is told by Piticu, a young man who struggles to make something of his life, other than to wind up another victim of drugs or gang wars. He often is the first at the site of every tragedy, like the one at the Romana Square.
Gelu Radu's "Inapoi in cartier" is the definitive gangster movie because we see everything in gangster character finally on film. Martial arts skills, cunning, great tactical thinking, forensic application, technological genius, inventions/technological breakthroughs, intimidating personality, and even a little nudity.
This isn't an action movie. It's a film that explores literary themes of the hero and villain, as well as order and anarchy. Yes, listen to the dialog because it's all in there.
