‘Familiar’ Director Calin Peter Netzer on Unraveling the Secrets of a Family Who Fled Communist Romania: ‘You Never Know What the Truth Is’
03.11.2023 - 18:39
/ variety.com
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor In “Familiar,” Berlinale Golden Bear-winning director Călin Peter Netzer follows Dragoş Binder, a film director, as he delves into the murky secrets of his family, and tries to exorcise the trauma of his childhood by making a film about it. Beta Cinema is handling world sales for the film, which has its world premiere this month at Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia. In the film, Dragoş is trying to understand how his family were able to leave Romania in the early 80s, during the most oppressive period of Nicolae Ceausescu’s rule.
Dragoş also seeks to discover the truth of the breakdown in the marriage between his father, Emil, and mother, Valentina, and the true nature of Valentina’s relationship with swimming instructor Harald Stern, a suspected informant for the secret police, the Securitate. Emanuel Pârvu, who appeared in Cristian Mungiu’s Cannes award winner “Graduation,” plays Dragoş. Iulia Lumânare, who was in Netzer’s Berlin competition title “Ana, My Love,” plays Ilinca.
Adrian Titieni, who was in Netzer’s Berlinale winner “Child’s Pose,” is Emil. Ana Ciontea, who was in Radu Jude’s Berlinale winner “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn,” is Valeria. Victoria Ecaterina Moraru, who was in Andrei Tanase’s “Tigru,” plays Alina.
As his investigation progresses, Dragoş draws closer to his former girlfriend, Ilinca, who is working with him on the project, but his relationship with his fiancée, Alina, deteriorates. The film plays like a spy thriller with the discovery of secret files on the family, covert surveillance of a suspect, and the heated delivery of accusations and denunciations. “The film is about identity,” Netzer tells Variety.