Another outstanding year for Romanian documentaries as London International Documentary Festival will screen two of the most anticipated premieres: Victoria, by Ana Vlad & Adi Voicu and Kapitalism: Our Improved Formula, by Alexandru Solomon, followed by director Q&A.
The highly-regarded documentaries embody a bitter-sweet contemporary image of Romania, providing the audience with a strong 'reality check'.
Victoria, by Ana Vlad & Adi Voicu, the first winner of the Romanian National Script Contest in 2009, focuses on a few snapshots about human identity which take place in an archetypal Romanian town. As you might have guessed, it is called Victoria. Although its name resembles the word 'victory', its fate is nowhere near to being ideal or bucolic as it should. Over the town reigns a heavy smell produced by factory that has no problem with polluting the area. People are struggling to cope with isolation.
Kapitalism: Our Improved Formula, by award-winning director Alexandru Solomon, captures Romania's long journey from 'the ugly face of communism' to 'nowadays democracy'. The film follows closely the lives of the wealthiest men and reveals 'their key to success' through a day by day footage of their lives - yacht cruises, business meetings or scenes at home. An eccentric cocktail of power, money and the ghosts of past communism, Kapitalism is worth watching.
LIDF is the UK's largest independent documentary festival providing a platform for radical and groundbreaking output from around the globe. In 2011 LIDF celebrates its fifth year with its most extensive programme to date running at venues across London from 13 May - 28 May.
When & Where:
Victoria: 21 May 2011, 4pm, Tricycle Cinema. Tickets from www.tricycle.co.uk
Kapitalism: Our Improved Formula: 23 May, 6.30pm, Rich Mix. Tickets from www.richmix.org.uk
Alexandru Solomon Workshop: 24 May, 6.30pm, The Horse Hospital. More details.
