The Treasure

Name: The Treasure
Genre: Comedy
Released: January 8, 2016
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Adrian Purcarescu, Corneliu Cozmei, Toma Cuzin

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Sundance Selects | Release Date: January 8, 2016 | Not Rated

Starring: Adrian Purcarescu, Corneliu Cozmei, Toma Cuzin

Summary: Costi leads a peaceful life. At night he likes to read his 6-year-old son stories, to help him sleep. Their favourite is Robin Hood. Costi sees himself as the hero - righter of wrongs and defender of the oppressed. One evening, his neighbour pays him an unexpected visit and shares a secret: there's treasure buried in his grandparents'Costi leads a peaceful life. At night he likes to read his 6-year-old son stories, to help him sleep. Their favourite is Robin Hood. Costi sees himself as the hero - righter of wrongs and defender of the oppressed. One evening, his neighbour pays him an unexpected visit and shares a secret: there's treasure buried in his grandparents' garden, he's sure of it. If Costi will hire a metal detector to help locate it, he'll give him half of whatever they get. Skeptical at first, in the end Costi can't resist. He's on board. The two accomplices have one weekend to locate the loot. Despite every obstacle in their path, Costi refuses to be discouraged. For his wife and son, he's a real hero - nothing and no one are going to stop him.… Expand

Director: Corneliu Porumboiu

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 89 min

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Critic Reviews

100

A.O. Scott

Jan 7, 2016

The final shot, accompanied by an improbable but perfect musical cue, is an astonishing cinematic gesture, an appalling, hilarious statement about modern values, the state of the world, human nature and everything else. This is a movie that lives up to its name. Read full review

Scott Foundas

Oct 9, 2015

Porumboiu’s particular brand of farce is always shot through with the pulse of everyday life and its Sisyphean struggles. He is, simply put, one of our great contemporary observers of the human comedy. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Jan 12, 2016

Drolly funny and rigorously executed, Corneliu Porumboui’s The Treasure offers a fine example of the conceptual boldness that characterizes much of New Wave Romanian cinema. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Oct 9, 2015

The Treasure may not be a major work from Porumboiu or his filmmaking tradition, but it proves that even cerebral formalism has its soft side. Read full review

Michael Atkinson

Jan 5, 2016

In a manner so sly you could overlook it, Porumboiu invests this tissue-thin premise with the shadows of Romanian history. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Oct 9, 2015

The Treasure once again demonstrates that even though there is little chance of his breaking down the doors of your next door multiplex, Porumboiu is certainly one of the most original filmmakers to emerge in the recent past. Read full review

John Bleasdale

Oct 9, 2015

Although not quite the bounty of its title, The Treasure rewards the patient viewer with a quietly enchanting drama. Read full review

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User Reviews

luke100

Jan 10, 2018

One of my first and favorite "slow" movies. The performances, the tight shots, the long takes and the oddly relaxing slowness subvert a child's dream of finding a treasure, turning them into an adult story. The relationship between adulthood and childhood is simply perfectly crafted in The Treasure.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

StanleyKubrick

Jul 28, 2016

A wonderfully dry comedy and one of Corneliu Porumboiu's finest works to date. After only 5 films he has established himself as one of the best observers not only of the Romanian society, but of the human condition itself. The late Eric Rohmer, one of his influences, has found a true heir.A wonderfully dry comedy and one of Corneliu Porumboiu's finest works to date. After only 5 films he has established himself as one of the best observers not only of the Romanian society, but of the human condition itself. The late Eric Rohmer, one of his influences, has found a true heir. But Porumboiu's style is all his own.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

LeZee

Feb 4, 2018

Not your typical treasure hunt film!

Who doesn't like treasure hunt films. They are always exciting with surprises. See this film poster, and the title is just perfect. That's what I expected, like if not another 'Indiana Jones', then 'National Treasure'. I was disappointed with thatNot your typical treasure hunt film!

Who doesn't like treasure hunt films. They are always exciting with surprises. See this film poster, and the title is just perfect. That's what I expected, like if not another 'Indiana Jones', then 'National Treasure'. I was disappointed with that perspective. But realised it was unique with the most realistic approach. I've seen plenty of same themed films, but this one stood out to be one of the rare kind. This film is not fun as the others, but surely makes sense of what real treasure hunt means. Though the film did not take the complicated route to narrate the tale. Just a simple, small film.

A man from a little middle-class family living in an apartment is approached by his neighbour guy who financially broke. All he wanted was some cash, so that he could go and look for treasure that his dying grandfather told him about. Now these two join hands for the unusual quest. They had to make all the pre-arrangement before jumping into it. Like hiring a metal detector and making it a weekend event for not clashing with their routines. So finally the most expected venture begins and how it all turns out are told with some fun filled tense climax.

This is a very slow film. Particularly those treasure hunt sequences became even slower than what one would expect out of it. Probably a film for matured audience. It is considered as a black comedy and yes, that's how everything unfolded. Though not all black comedies are same. I mean not everybody understands clearly why it is called that.

In my instance, I expected something else, but got another thing. In the end, I really enjoyed it. The initial story was unbelievable. I mean, if somebody approached me with a theory like that, not just me, most of the people won't easily want to be a part of it. Not because it is illegal, but does not make sense or gives enough reason to take part. It has to be convinced thoroughly.

❝We've all got problems. You've got problems. I've got problems. A man makes his own problems. They don't descend from heaven.❞

The little Robin Hood story at the opening was relevant to how the film has ended. That character called Costi was an ideal man for a typical world. His belief to be a good person in the society, definitely gives the right message. But I did not think he would go for such a quest. That's the first twist. Then following that, seeing his desperate to succeed, more than the man who took him in, it kind of made fun, like of course black comedy. Especially during the hunt, the verbal fight between two out of three set a perfect tone for the rest of the tale.

Definitely not a predictable storyline. That's what kept my eyes open, despite frequent drops in the pace of the narration. I liked the dialogues, especially about the some of the technical terms. Like about metal detector, and the brief history about the Romanian communist era, including the Dos and Don'ts, what the law says about the treasures that has found. It was not like you take all the needed tools and the adventure begins. It excellently highlighted that the treasure hunt is not like one you have seen in the films.

Finally, regarding the treasure, it comes in many forms. How this film sorted out that part was really cool. That's indeed a well written screenplay. It's not impossible to see such a film in Hollywood, but they won't make money, that's the difference. That is the reason why small film industries around the world shines with such little gems. This is the reason I want to explore the world cinema.

When it comes to the development, in some of the parts, the film was not that logical. That's how it has to go, so it became what it is. As I said the end was really cool. I meant the post quest end. It had ended bringing a little smile on my face. Nice performances. The writer, director is the first to be appreciated. I haven't seen many Romanian films, but from those I've seen never disappointed, and so this one, a very satisfying film. My little advise is for those who wants to see it is expect it to be a drama than an action-adventure- thriller. Patience is another thing it required. Probably you would like it after watched it than while watching. But overall a worthy film.

7.5/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

Feb 20, 2016

The Treasure perfectly succeeds in being the best movie of early 2016. Who knows when the next movie's going to succeed this movie? All I know is... be extra careful to your movie because you'll never know what will happen to it.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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