The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Moartea domnului Lazarescu) (2005)
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93% of critics liked it
(74 reviews) -
79% of users liked it
(4,529 ratings)
Mr. Lazarescu (Ion Fiscuteanu) is not feeling well. He has a bad headache and has been vomiting. He feels that it is something more serious than the pain caused by his ulcer and the hangovers caused by his regular excessive drinking. He calls for an ambulance, and after convincing the skeptical… More Mr. Lazarescu (Ion Fiscuteanu) is not feeling well. He has a bad headache and has been vomiting. He feels that it is something more serious than the pain caused by his ulcer and the hangovers caused by his regular excessive drinking. He calls for an ambulance, and after convincing the skeptical dispatcher that he is not simply drunk, he begins the long wait for help to arrive. Eventually, he visits his neighbors, Sandu (Doru Ana) and Miki (Dana Dogaru), in search of stronger pain relievers. They are busy and reluctant to help him, but eventually realize that something may be seriously wrong with the smelly old drunkard. Sandu takes him back to his apartment, and, later, the paramedic, Mioara (Luminita Gheorghiu), finally arrives. After ascertaining that Lazarescu has been drinking to excess, she considers giving him an aspirin and going on her way, but a quick examination shows that the old man is in severe pain, and Mioara begins to suspect that he is gravely ill. Thus begins a long, unpleasant journey from one hospital to another, as Lazarescu faces a backlog of patients caused by a massive traffic accident, and the cold indifference of arrogant doctors who appear hesitant to cure a man who has seemingly destroyed his own health. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu was co-written and directed by Rumanian filmmaker Cristi Puiu. It was shown at the 2005 New York Film Festival, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Cristi Puiu
- Written By
- Cristi Puiu, Razvan Radulescu
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Apr 26, 2006 Limited
- Studio
- Tartan Films
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Both sad and darkly funny, the film is so sharply conceived and richly populated that it often registers like a Frederick Wiseman documentary, even though everything is scripted and every part played by a professional.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
There's something about Fiscuteanu's quietly desperate performance (with much of the emotion conveyed through his eyes), that gets under your skin.
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Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
As commentary, it's grim. As filmmaking, it's a powerfully disturbing odyssey through the Bucharest health care system.
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Philip Kennicott, Washington Post
A tour de force of cinema verite with astonishing performances by a huge cast of small players.
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Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
The movie is a stunner, so hypnotic that the length hardly matters.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Ion Fiscuteanu
as Dante Lazarescu
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Luminita Gheorghiu
as Mioara
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Doru Ana
as Sandu Sterian
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Dana Dogaru
as Mihaela Sterian
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Serban Pavlu
as Gelu
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Gabriel Spahiu
as Leo
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Florin Zamfirescu
as Doctor Ardelean
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Bogdan Dumitrache
as Medic at Spitalul Sf Spiridon
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Dragos Bucur
as Misu
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Dan Chiriac
as Trial Medic at Spitalul University
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Clara Voda
as Doctor Gina Filip
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Adrian Titieni
as Doctor Dragos Popescu
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Mihai Bratila
as Doctor Breslasu
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Monica Barladeanu
as Mariana
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Mimi Branescu
as Doctor Mirica
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Alina Berzunteanu
as Doctor Zamfir
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Simona Popescu
as Assistant at Spitalul Bagdasar
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Mirela Cioaba
as Marioara
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Dorian Boguta
as Ambulance Driver
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Robert Bumbes
as Robert
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Laura Cret
as Echograph Medic at Spitalul Sf Spiridon
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Alexandru Fifeu
as Virgil Stretcher Carrier Spitalul Sf Spi...
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Florina Alina Gleznea
as Assistant at Spitalul Sf Spiridon
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Tidor Hristescu
as Doctor Kelemen
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Rodica Ionescu
as Assistant at Spitalul Universitar
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Cerasela Iosifescu
as Assistant at Assistant at Spitalul Filar...
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Irina Kozsar
as Assistant at Spitalul Universitar
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Rodica Lazar
as Assistant at Spitalul Filaret
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Alexandru Cristian Potocean
as Stretcher Carrier at Spitalul Bagdasar
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Calin Adrian Puiu
as Stretcher Carrier at Spitalul Bagdasar
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Anca Puiu
as Vecina
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Emil Puiu
as DL Sandu
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Iuliana Puiu
as Dna Sandu
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Smaranda Puiu
as Smarandu
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Jean Lorin Sterian
as Medic at Spitalul Universitar
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Marian Stoica
as Patient of Spitalul Sf Spiridon
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Maria Serb
as Assistant at Spitalul Bagdasar
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Andrei Serban
as Stretcher Carrier at Spital of SF Spirid...
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Cristian Turungiu Ionel Zaharia
as Stretcher Carrier Spitalul Universitars
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Lorena-Andrada Zabrautanu
as Assistant at Spitalul Universitar
- Mircea Dinescu
- Radu Moraru
- Adriana Muraru

