The Death of Mr. Lazarescu on DVD (2005)

A customer from London, England , 02/08/2006

On the surface this documentary style film, which follows an increasingly ailing and lonely old man though the machinations of the health service, sounds incredibly tedious. It is, however, one of the most captivating and touching movies I've ever seen, and not without its moments of dark humour. A film that does not shy away from the indignities of death and the importance of compassion. One of my top ten films ever.

  12 out of 12 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Aberdeen, Scotland , 15/05/2007

The way this film is marketed is the worst misrepresentation of a film I've ever seen. By the DVD box I was expecting a black comedy along the lines of The Trouble With Harry. What I got was a bleak documentary style portrait of the failing Romanian health service. Dripping with realism and statement but also tedious and boring beyond belief. Perhaps if I hadn't expected a different movie I could have found this easier to stomach but for the first time ever I found myself giving up on a film I have paid to see. And I have seen a LOT of films.

Most people in the world have had frustrating times at the hands of health services and their plight should be recognised. But there's no need to film it and call it art.

No matter how bad a film is I always see it through until the end. But I could not bear this any longer and I switched off after 90 minutes. Another hour to go? What a thought. It was torture. Very slooooow torture.

I am pretty open minded and will watch most things and I have no doubt that some will love this. Maybe I missed something but if you're expecting a black comedy then it's not to be found here.

  8 out of 10 people found this review helpful

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Brian Faulkner from Bridgwater, England , 04/11/2006

A lonely old man and his cats finds himself ill in the middle of the night. Although his drinking habits are a contributory factor in his illness, the story really revolves around a health service staffed by expert but very tired staff who are trying to cope with their situation. Incredibly hypnotic.

Very believable.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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A customer from n wales , 02/12/2006

the film opens with a gnarly old man feeding his cats, and finishes with a simple scene on a stretcher in what could be an anonymous hospital anywhere in the world. it could be a scene we all dread, maybe a scene that awaits us all. through a script which leans towards drama rather than comedy but presents us with elements of both, we watch mr. lazarescu on whats probably his final journey, treated with various degree by good doctors, bad doctors, grumpy doctors, snobbish doctors, pitiful doctors - all the guys and girls our great medical system can offer - some continuing to resemble human beings, which - to a certain degree - is quite an achievement. the medical staff are also not to blame for a terrible car crash also adds depth to the backdrop of the central story. on the other hand the script is filled with irony, sarcasm and cynicism, all worth their laughs. the end result is a fantastic piece of filmaking that ultimatley asks questions but boils down to a choice between what is right and what is easy, as the saying goes; the question of of humanity and dignity involved to the last.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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Chintan Nanavati from Staffs, England , 30/08/2008

A masterpiece, for sure. This is another one of those jaw-dropping performances-that-aren't-really-performances so common in world cinema and so uncommon in Hollywood. Ion Fiscuteanu is just utterly perfect as Dante Remus Lazarescu. He is so completely watchable. All that time in his company and I was gripped till the end. But it's not just him. All of the other actors/actresses were also pitch-perfect. Even relatively minor characters were fascinatingly played. This is brilliant, naturalistic filmmaking. And, yes, there is some comedy (largely in the form of two of the doctors) seamlessly woven into the overall fabric of the film which feels more like a horrific, inevitable, Greek tragedy.

The ultimate optimism of the film lies in the great humanity embodied by the female paramedic - earthy, weary, but wholly decent - and one of the doctors - an ethereal, angelic, saintly presence in the midst of so much medico-heartlessness, arrogance and recklessness. A unique and essential work of art.

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