Marfa si banii

Ovidiu lives at home with his parents and dreams of opening his own shop. Then he is offered a rather large sum of cash to deliver some parcels of 'medicine' to some address in Bucharest. This offer comes from local crime boss and all round unsavoury type – Ivanov Marcel.

Ovidiu decides to take along his best mate, Vali, as he can drive and he has the van and what is more Ovidiu's mum wants him to do the shopping on the way home. On the trip they will discover a lot about each other and why taking large amounts of money for a seemingly easy gig is not always the brightest idea.

Now this is a comedy and there are some very well realised moments in this, but some do not seem to translate very well. It is a small cast and budget but does not really lack for it. The lad's views on the desirability of the Dacia motor car are in themselves are enough to keep any petrol head amused. I also learnt that the Romanians have a word for 'knackered' which was nice to know. The acting is all good too and it has a down to earth feel that is in keeping with the disposition of the people involved; all in all an enjoyable watch.

Rarely did I feel such a deep and vivid satisfaction, while watching a movie... I could simply not take my eyes off the computer display, permanently letting go spontaneous remarks like: "Wow!", "O.M.F.G., how GOOD it can be!", "Dammit, but it's GREAT!", "Now, this is what I call a movie!", "Cristi, you sonovagun, you really DID IT!"

The script is simple but not simplistic, classic and revolutionary at the same time. Following the seemingly linear main plot, the authors subtly insert elements from a parallel story, never disclosed (the mysterious thugs who chase the protagonists - in a very "Duel"-like formula) and explosively blown in the corpses-on-the-field scene. All the elements of this structure charge the movie with so much tension, that the ending becomes barely bearable. In truth, it's one of the best built movie endings I saw in Romanian cinema. Just the thought of what might happen tomorrow gives you the creeps!

The direction is masterful and deconstructivist. Cristi's long and mobile shots, apparently messy, in truth perfectly figured, contribute to the inexorable build-up. The actors are snappy, precise - and so natural, that the stream of profanities they utter becomes literally charming. All in all, it's a certain recipe for quality: what one can do with a simple script and a few bucks, if one really has TALENT.

One should also add that this movie opened the so-called "minimalist trend" in Romanian cinema - the trademark of the New Generation. As some opinions were stating, one should mark it in our culture's history by the formula B.C.P. / A.C.P.: "Before Cristi Puiu" / "After..." - or "Annum..."! ;)

I seen on top 250 a lot of movies which are considered masterpieces, but they are just very good, if not stupid. This movie is very simple, but an incredible suspense-film, with perfect acting. The sound is bad because of very low budget, and also because the sound is produced at the same time with the image. In fact, the movie follow the set of rules confirmed by DOGMA 95. Often, people like to consider that great movies are complex, complicated, hard to understand, etc. I think this is a mistake. Marfa si banii is a great movie, and let's not exagerate with the subevaluation! 10/10

I do not agree with the people who say that this movie has a lot of useless scenes in it.

We say this because we are used to movies in which a lot happens, quick scenes following each other accompanied with "meaningfull" music. Every word the actors say may seem improvised, but it's very well chosen. And it's so realistic at times it hurts to be Romanian. Coz it's simply true. When the movie seems to fall in a kind of trance, you suddenly wake up. The suspense is held up to the very last moment. If any other can make such a movie with no budget, he may eat the director alive ( his name literally means chicken). Puiu put the first step to the rehabilitation of the Romanian culture and cinema.

Bravo

"Marfa si banii" remains one of the most remarkable films. For freshness and for simplicity. For performances. And for the mark of a remarkable Romanian director. A film in which the bitter humor and the profound honesty about Romania after 1989 are good tools for a well crafted story and a precise diagnosis about a world in wake-up level, who has as basic purpose to survive. A smart film. And the personal mark of Cristi Puiu.