IF I WANT TO WHISTLE, I WHISTLE

Romania, 2010, 98 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Florian Serban.

The Romanian cinema of the first decade of the 21st century continues. With a capacity for choosing down-to-earth contemporary stories of post-Communist Romanian society, the films have been acclaimed worldwide and have become festival favourites. This film won the Jury Prize in Berlin.

It has a prison setting, a jail for younger offenders. With an eye for the detail of day-by-day life in this institution, the director (as he did in real life with his cast of many actual prisoners playing life-like roles) has immersed us in this world. The same power and hierarchical games are played. Warders can be brutal. But these are young men whose life is still ahead of them. The drama focuses on an 18 year old youth, Silviu, on the eve of his release after four years. He is more genial than many of the others but is trying to resist being provoked to ensure his freedom.

A visit from his little brother whom he raised because his father was in hospital and his mother worked in Italy leads to a confrontation with his mother so that she does not repeat her neglectful treatment of Silviu.

But, calm release, as we guess, is not going to be easy and the film builds to a melodramatic climax as well as a quiet culmination.

At first,this seems an ordinary enough film but the performances (his first) by high school student, Geroge Pistereanu, gets to the audience and by the time his mother visits him and tempers and resentment flare, we are fully involved.

An effectively realised contemporary social drama.

1.Romanian films and the 21st century? The renaissance and success of the film industry? The use of realism, ordinary down-to-earth stories, with intensity? Human nature and emotion? Desperation?

2.The prison setting, the younger offenders, the detail of the prison, the dormitories, the eating room, the washrooms? The work, with the hay, with the trees? The sport? The fences? The director and his attitude? Audiences experiencing the realism in its detail?

3.The style of naturalism, time, the editing and pace, the direct photography? The musical score?

4.The title, Silviu and his decisions, strong will? Prison and the lack of freedom, confinement, breaking out?

5.The introduction to Silviu, in handcuffs, coming out of the office, with the other prisoners? The bonds? Eighteen years of age, with the others in the washroom, working with the hay, singing the song, later working out with the trees, in the dormitory, the meals, the music, watching the sport, running and kicking the ball?

6.His brother’s visit, the introduction to the story of the family, the mother going to Italy, the father in hospital, Silviu and his firmness with his brother, going out to watch him leaving with his mother, going beyond the boundaries, the fence, getting into trouble, reporting to director? The director’s talking with him, giving him another chance, tearing up the report? Two weeks till the end of his sentence?

7.Silviu wanting the phone, bartering the cigarettes to get the phone, persuading his friend to give him the phone, making the call while at work out in the trees?

8.The mother’s visit, more of the story, her taking her son to Italy, the various men in her life, continually sending Silviu back to Romania? Silviu not wanting his brother to have the same experience? The argument during the visit, his mother slapping him, the taunts, the desperation and the confrontation?

9.The fellow prisoner, the humiliation of Silviu in the dormitory, taunting him to respond and be violent, telling him about the time and his fear of not being released? Making him his slave? Asking for the phone during the night and the refusal? Searching out the director and asking him to go home, the refusal? The other prisoners thinking that he might be a snitch?

10.The episode with the interviews, the trainees, the young women, the questionnaires and finishing the sentences, the effect on Silviu? His talk about the young woman, boasting? The supervisor, reading the questionnaire, Silviu’s bad reaction, kicking him, upset, the upheaval in the office, bashing the guard, ousting everyone, getting the glass shard, taking Ana as hostage? Barring the door, the only entry through the window?

11.The siege, the director, bargaining, getting the officers to stand back? At the window with Ana and the shard? Her fear, her tears? His threat to kill himself? Demanding that his mother come, their getting her? Her getting in the window, the talk, his making her swear that she would not take his brother to Italy? Patching up the guard and getting the inmates to take him out to the hospital? The demand for a car, the discussion about taking Ana for a coffee, her saying she would go, his taping her answers and then deleting them?

12.The car, getting the prisoner who had run away during work time, uncuffing him, getting him in the car, setting him free?

13.In the restaurant, having the coffee with Ana, the silence, his enjoying it? His decision, asking her to order another coffee?

14.His walking along the road, the police cars coming, taking him – and the end?

15.The experience of sharing the prison life, learning of Silviu’s story and his desperation? The prospects for further imprisonment?