The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

Name: The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Genre: Drama
Released: April 26, 2006
Duration: 150 min
Rating: 87

2006

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Universal acclaim based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 41 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 41 Ratings

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Death Of Mr. Lazarescu

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Movie Details & Credits

Tartan | Release Date: April 26, 2006 | R

Summary: Anyone who has waited for treatment in an emergency room or chafed under the less than devoted care of a disinterested doctor will recognize Mr. Lazarescu's dilemma. A 60-ish widower, living alone in Bucharest with his cats, he feels sick enough one evening to call an ambulance. This is the beginning of his Dantesque odyssey deep into theAnyone who has waited for treatment in an emergency room or chafed under the less than devoted care of a disinterested doctor will recognize Mr. Lazarescu's dilemma. A 60-ish widower, living alone in Bucharest with his cats, he feels sick enough one evening to call an ambulance. This is the beginning of his Dantesque odyssey deep into the bowels of a big city medical establishment. It's a story that could take place anywhere and Mr. Lazarescu could be your next-door neighbor – or he could be you. [Tartan Films]… Expand

Director: Cristi Puiu

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 150 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Like "United 93" and the work of the Dardenne brothers, it lives entirely in the moment, seeing what happens as it happens, drawing no conclusions, making no speeches, creating no artificial dramatic conflicts, just showing people living one moment after another, as they must. Read full review

100

Stephen Holden

A thorny masterpiece. Read full review

100

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Mr. Lazarescu is that rich and riveting a film of universal small human moments and big-system failure. Read full review

J. Hoberman

An explicit ode to mortality, not without a certain grim humor. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Radiating a startling intensity, the film demands to be reckoned with. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

There's something about Fiscuteanu's quietly desperate performance (with much of the emotion conveyed through his eyes), that gets under your skin. Read full review

Kyle Smith

It's supposed to be about a Kafkaesque experience. Instead, it IS a Kafkaesque experience. Why are we here? Is everything absurd? Is anyone in charge? Read full review

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User Reviews

PeterM.

Oct 19, 2006

Harrowing film depicting the last hours in the life of Mr. Dante (no mistake about that name) Lazarescu, leavened with dollops of back humor modeled on the disconnect between the dialogue and what we see on the screen.

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CraigS.

Jan 7, 2007

Best statement on humanity or lack of humanity that I've seen. It will help turn most viewers into beings who care more for each other.

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BogdanP.

Feb 5, 2007

The drama on the screen is no more powerful than the real drama. Yet the true power of the movie is that it portrays reality as no one believes it could be. Deeply human. Sad nonetheless.

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StefanC.

Aug 31, 2006

One of the most entrenching films coming from a Romanian director, "Moartea domnului Lazarescu" truly becomes a profound experience throughout its viewing. The drama of daily life, people portayed as people and not their avatars, and the humorous tragedy of Mr. Lazarescu ammount to quite an One of the most entrenching films coming from a Romanian director, "Moartea domnului Lazarescu" truly becomes a profound experience throughout its viewing. The drama of daily life, people portayed as people and not their avatars, and the humorous tragedy of Mr. Lazarescu ammount to quite an achievement from Cristi Puiu. Hopefully, only the first in many to come.… Expand

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 21, 2021

This is a very bleak watch - any comedy is very much dark in nature. I did find myself smirking on ocassion though, right enough. I found it both interesting and sad how the titular characters neighbours judged him - his situation and his surroundings. Social judgement is one of the keyThis is a very bleak watch - any comedy is very much dark in nature. I did find myself smirking on ocassion though, right enough. I found it both interesting and sad how the titular characters neighbours judged him - his situation and his surroundings. Social judgement is one of the key terms in relation to this film - buck passing also comes to mind. Another relevant term would be (in relation to the health professionals) God complex.

Its sobering (no pun intended) how people, esp. professionals/those in authority, seem so quick to write him off, as it were. Given we're not provided any real background or history on him, its hard to judge him too much - we can only go by what he says. It does a good job as a film of social commentary, at depicting the lack of dignity and respect afforded to the older person who is assumed to be an anti-social nuisance, getting in everyone's way, needing vital resources. Its sad to think that older people who perhaps drink regularly may be viewed, or dismissed, in such a way from all but the get go. This is, as I say, a sobering watch. Its a tale of our times perhaps. It features some very shaky camerawork and the ending was, I felt, a little abrupt but that aside, its a good watch - its a bit of an allegory for society at the moment perhaps and its certainly a thought provoking watch. Oh and an example of a somewhat amusing pieces of dialogue is as follows - 'my, your slow. You should be sent to fetch death!' (charming!).… Expand

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JenniferM.

Oct 22, 2006

I, too, didn't get the humour in it. I found it painfully realistic and bleak. Great performances and highly original though.

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JasonK.

Jan 22, 2007

The most depresssing film I've seen in years, it made me feel ill. Why on earth does it get such a high rating?

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