| Ion Fiscuteanu,
Luminita Gheorghiu, Gabriel Spahiu , Doru Ana, Dana Dogaru, Florin
Zamfirescu.
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. |