2019 Cannes Critics’ Panel: Day 6 – Corneliu Porumboiu’s The Whistlers

Making his way up the “Croisette ladder”, Corneliu Porumboiu first arrived in Cannes (and helped launched what was known as the Romanian New Wave) in 2004 with Cinéfondation winner A Trip to the City. His 2006 Directors’ Fortnight selected 12:08 East of Bucharest (review) won him the coveted Caméra d’Or and he followed that up with the Un Certain Regard what could have arguably been a stoic comp selection but nonetheless confirmed his prowess with 2009’s Police, Adjective (Jury Prize and Fipresci Prize) and shored up once again in the same section with 2015’s The Treasure (review). Locarno selected When Evening Falls on Bucharest or Metabolism and a pair of docus are squeezed in this batch of films with The Whistlers becoming his bid for Palme d’Or glory. Starring Vlad Ivanov, Catrinel Marlon and filmmaker Agustí Villaronga who plays a mobster are among the players in this perfect cross between gangster film and comedy. MK2 Films are selling the pic.

A festival comp that is filled with genre items since day one, Porumboiu’s genre-bender was lukewarmly received but still has its fans.

Click on the grid below for a larger version and latest updates!