MALMKROG (2020)
3h 21min  |  Drama, History  |  Language: Hungarian, French, Russian, German  |  Subtitles: English

 

SYNOPSIS

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Nikolai, a large landowner, a man of the world, places his country estate at the disposal of some friends, by organizing a sojourn at the spacious manor house.

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For the guests, among which we find a politician, a young countess, a Russian General and his wife, time passes at the manor house with rich meals, society games and by engaging in a long discussion about death and the Antichrist, progress and morality. As the discussion gradually takes shape and the various topics are broached, each of them lays out his vision of the world, history, and religion.

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The hours pass, the discussion becomes more heated, the topics become more and more serious, and differences of culture and viewpoints grow increasingly apparent. Whether for good reason or not, the guests end up exacerbating each other’s anxieties to the point that their conversation begins to be sorely strained.

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Finally, falling into the snare of their own discourse and believing that history never repeats itself, none of them is able to realize the extent of the event in which they have unwittingly come to be trapped.

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CAST & CREW

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Stars - Frédéric Schulz-Richard, Agathe Bosch, Marina Palii 

Director - Cristi Puiu 

Screenplay - Cristi Puiu, Vladimir Solovyov (book)

Cinematography - Tudor Vladimir Panduru

Editing - Dragos Apetri, Andrei Iancu, Bogdan Zarnoianu

Producers - Jörgen Andersson, Anamaria Antoci, Anthony Muir, Anca Puiu, Mirsad Purivatra, Andreas Roald, Milan Stojanovic, Dan Wechsler, Jamal Zeinal Zade, Kjell Åhlund

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AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

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Berlin International Film Festival 2020
Winner - Encounters Award - Best Director, Cristi Puiu

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Transylvania International Film Festival 2020
Nominee - Romanian Days Award, Best Feature Film

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PRESS QUOTES

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★★★★★

“Completely unique” LITTLE WHITE LIES

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★★★★★

"A film that dares to be totally different from anything else you have seen” FILM REVIEW

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★★★★★

“Wildly fascinating” EYE FOR FILM

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★★★★★

"It’s Cristi Puiu’s commitment which astonishes, the unflinching dedication..." MOVIE WAFFLER

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★★★★

“First-rate, physically impressive performances” THE UPCOMING

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"Stark, austere, cerebral... this is a film of formidable and almost intimidating seriousness." THE GUARDIAN

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"A marvel of composition." VARIETY

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“Uncompromising film-making." THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

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"The acting is admirable... and the execution is meticulous." SCREEN DAILY

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“Uncompromising philosophical epic” METRO

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“A boldly uncompromising look at aristocratic life” THE FILM STAGE

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"An impeccably crafted and a studiously mannered chamber drama" BACK SEAT MAFIA

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"Malmkrog is of the most extraordinary cases of adaptation in cinema history" SIGHT & SOUND

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"Cristi Puiu’s Malmkrog Wages a War Between Language and Cinema" SLANT MAGAZINE