Paul is a middle aged banker,
who one can tell by all the nudity in this film, has not been to the gym for
some time,  and he is having an affair with Ralucca his daughter’s dentist. He is torn
between staying with Adriana his Lawyer wife who he has been married too for 10
years, and wanting to be with his much younger mistress. It is obvious that he is in love with Ralucca
and that there is no spark left in his marriage and he is simply just going
through the motions of family life.  Paul
wants to bring some clarity to the situation and decides that he must make a
choice now that Christmas is here, and so confesses all to his unsuspecting
wife.

This movie is by Radu Muntean and being part of the Romanian New Wave cinema movement, is very realistic and minimalistic. However like others in this genre it is not bleak and heavy going but rather a tender portrayal of the collapse of a marriage without the usual histrionics and melodrama.  In fact one of the best scenes is where Paul breaks the news to Adriana and it is  both beautifully written and underplayed that it deliberately ensures that we don’t really take sides with either party.

Mr. Muntean, one of the screenwriters too, uses long single scenes with the camera barely moving, that somehow allows one to get closer to the truth and appreciate the developing story.  He is greatly assisted by his three lead actors who put in such full yet understated performances that make the whole piece that much more honest and believable.  (Turns out that the actors playing Paul and Adriana are actually a couple in real-life too).

It’s a sensitive and intimate look at a uncomplicated man dealing with his mid-life crises.  Very touching and completely compelling. A.O. Scott in ”The New York Times” placed it on his Top 20 List of 2011, which I thought was a tad too generous, but it is rather a splendid wee film nevertheless.   (Available at Amazon)

★★★★★★★★