Next Year Adrian Popovici is ‘Looking for a Mother’

Adrian Popovici is currently in the post-production phase on his latest project. Pegged with an October 2011 release, Looking for a Mother (original title: Se cauta o mama) was shot in August of this year in Moldova and now it’s in the beginning stages of post-prod. Written by Valeriu Ţurcanu and Pascal Ilie Virgil, this is produced by ArtisFilm, from Romania, Moldova Film and Diametral-Film, from Moldova. The cast features B-actor cast of Michael Ironside (Top Gun), Paolo Seganti (L.A. Confidential, C.S.I.: Miami), Vas Blackwood (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and a few actors from Moldova: Energian Cazac, Ina Surdu, Alina Lungu Ţurcanu. 

Popovici’s film tells the story of Păvălaş (Energian Cazac), a 9-year-old boy whose mother, Irina, wants to sell him so she can escape from a mafia group led by Bruno (Paolo Seganti), which forces her to prostitutes. Irina wants to start a new life and her own business with the money she would get for Păvălaş. Finding out his mother intentions, Păvălaş runs from home. But his love for his mother makes him come back. Finally, Irina realizes she loves her son, so she refuses to sell him anymore. Only that she’s killed and Păvălaş is ultimately adopted by the couple Peter (Michael Ironside) and Alina (Alina Lungu Ţurcanu). The film starts with a scene in which Păvălaş writes a note: “Looking for a mother… She had blue eyes…”

“It hasn’t been an easy movie. The main characters are two children: Păvălaş and Gicu, his friend from boarding school. It is known that films in which children appear are not at all easy to make. But in the end everything went well. The Moldovan team was extremely understanding to us, the people who came from Romania, but especially to children. I personally worked very well with Slava Cebotari, director of photography. The actors were very good – I found great actors in Moldova. Too bad they do not make movies! And kids… two nice, highly intelligent and talented children.” said the director.

When asked about his work with Michael Ironside, Popovici added: “I enjoyed the support of foreign actors. They understood that this is a small budget film… and their professionalism is exemplary. With Michael I worked on Eva. We already know each other well. Michael began his career as a writer and by now he has played in dozens of movies… he’s a big help on the set. Actually, this film’s title came from him and we all agreed.”

693.000 lei (almost 170.000 euro) of its total 500.000 euro budget came from Romanian National Centre for Cinema.

This is Adrian Popovici’s fifth film, who has also made Dracula The Impaler, in 2002, and whose most recent film – Eva (with Dustin Milligan, Amy Beth Hayes, Michael Ironside) has been released during October.

“It’s a story based, if you will, on reality. Things like these have happened and, unfortunately, still happen in the former communist countries. We, the Romanian crew, would like to thank our partners – Diametral Film and Moldova Film – for their support” mentioned the director.