The Death of Mr. Lazarescu: Somber Sadness

Romania has been known for dark and somber themes in its cinema, and The Death of Mr. Lazarescu is no different. The film centers around the sickly, old Mr. Lazarescu and his trip through the Romanian medical system. This film concentrates more on those around him rather than his own story though. He acts more as a centerpiece, linking different ideas together. By doing this, one is able to see the disorganization of the medical system in Romania, thus showing the economic climate of the region.

The film has some very intriguing elements that do seem to bring out many ideas. First, early on in the film there is a scene where he is waiting in the hall of his building for one of his neighbors to bring him some medicine. The light in this hallway is controlled by a timer, and his neighbor has to turn it back on every minute or so. This happens several times creating an annoyance for the viewer. This use of misc-en-scene gives him or her a small taste of what living in that situation would be like. 

In a parallel to the story that is being told by the movie there has been a fatal bus crash in nearby. Throughout the entire film this is referenced through the doctors and through newscasts on television. This paints a picture of the harsh, depressing reality that is Romania.

The hospitals he visits are each different, with the attitudes of the doctors being the focus of the scenes. Mr. Lazarescu, as a patient is refused treatment early on because he simply has alcohol on his breath. This provincial mindset is definitely intended to be the focal point of the scene. The film is trying to convey the problems with Romanian society and how it fails to keep pace with global attitudes. On the other hand, by making this statement, the film itself does just the opposite and does gain a more global perspective.

-Matt Brundage