Un cartus de kent si un pachet de cafea (2004) Poster

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8/10
From now ago...
tributarystu25 April 2005
There's no need to look beyond this in order to become aware of a very common problem with which the elder generations are confronted: the issue of knowing little and being offered even less. Mainly due to the regime, I suppose, the mediocre majority of the population didn't acquire a lot of practical education, they weren't fed with the "know-how" for dealing with life in extreme conditions. Moreover, being a reasonably poor country, the Romanian government can't really offer the necessary money for a lot of people - even working ones, needless to mention those who have fulfilled their duties to society. So, nowadays, compromise is the only real solution - as this short adequately emphasizes.

The more impressive aspect, in my humble opinion, is the rift between father and son, one as docile as the regime made him, the other as though as you have to be today. It is obvious that the son is merely taking care of an obligation towards his parent, that it's all a pain in the dorsal side for him. It's the two different ends of the specter colliding with one another in a very grim and disturbingly abnormal situation. Both actors, Rebengiuc and Branescu encompass their characters in very convincing and natural performances. The script definitely helps a great deal in creating a very plausible set of circumstances, characters and attitudes. It's near perfect, in this regard.

Nevertheless, I think I've never seen a short to impress me enough as to mark it in my "book of unforgettables". It's hard for anything to leave a mark in just a few minutes and maybe this came close, but not close enough. Great catch however, 12 minutes wisely spent.
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Flawless!!...Essence of cinematography!
sebbastiann23 December 2004
Cristi Puiu brings out onto the screens a perfect picture which depicts the drama of a 50-year-old Romanian "bugeteer" who struggles to live in a society which no longer abides by any scale of values!

One mere conversation in a restaurant represents the synthesis of virgin society which makes no clear distinction between democracy and capitalism! It's more than life...it's essence of life! The conversation is brutally cleaned of any metaphor and the plot swiftly develops to an unexpected ending.

The twist of the film reminds us of the old "Laurel and Hardy" gags which make us laugh and cry at the same time.Life is merciless for all these kind of characters.

A bravura performance from Victor Rebengiuc!
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9/10
an exceptional short movie
nuclearbomb2 November 2004
This short movie intends to focus on one issue sociologically known as cultured shock. the film presents the condition of average Romanian in democratic Romania who finds out that the life and the problems are not different from Communist period, and if you want something, you must bribe around to get it.

So, our main character is fired after a long while, he is around 50 and needs to get a similar job, but the only job available is one inferior. He is forced to take it because the lack of money.

My opinion is that you have to live in Romania so that this movie can be as real and tragic as it seems.
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1/10
are u all sick ?
KDSS29 January 2005
it's the best film that takes the first place at the sickest and an useful films ever made in this poor country. really u people even don't know what the word cinema means and u cast votes for movies, i'm really curious to know how many movies of P.P.P. or L.Bunuel have u seen. The score of this "faield experiment" it reflects a lot of u're way of understanding things and to recognize a good/quality movie when u see it. We the Romanian people have only ONE movie and until this day the status hasn't change & that movie is "Padurea Spanzuratilor". But I don't lose my time thinking how many of you have seen it. That is a movie that respects all the required quality's's of an MOVIE. From the script to the frames and even to the quality/clarity of the picture even are past over him 41 years. I recommend to the voters to search for better movies and then vote. KuDos will See u later .
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honest portrait
Kirpianuscus31 December 2018
...for a reality who becomes obscure for a middle - age man using, for solve his problem, old recipe under Communism. The clash between generation, a clear, precise message. And the impecable performance of Victor Rebengiuc. Short - one of good proofs of the art of Cristian Puiu.
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a picture
Vincentiu1 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
more than a movie, it is a picture or part of fight against past. two men - father and son. two generations. a short dialog. and the depth of an abyss. it is not Pasolini or Bunuel. it is only new exercise of historical exorcism by Cristi Puiu. and for his demonstration he uses Victor Rebengiuc and Mimi Brănescu as parts of a cruel, gray, cold, almost absurd conversation, a film about survive. a story from East. a honest verdict about ages, roots, future, impossibility of real dialog. at first sigh, for a non - Romanian,the film seems be slice from Eugene Ionesco universe. strange, it is only thin part of every day reality. or, only a picture as a grave stone.
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