Autumn is here, and our weekend film recommendations, as well!
The next weekend of September brings two long-awaited Romanian film premieres. As per usual, we also have three film recommendations that can be seen at home, together with your friends and a big bowl of popcorn.

1. Povestea unui pierde-vară (dir. Paul Negoescu, comedy) – The latest film signed by Paul Negoescu tells the story of Petre, a 42-year-old professor of mathematics at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, who leads a carefree life. He splits his evenings between his friends and Irina, with whom he is in an open relationship. But once Irina gets pregnant, Petru is forced to change his lifestyle and finally grow up.

The film premiere is scheduled for this weekend, and it can be seen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Movieplex Cinema, Grand Cinema & More and Happy Cinema Liberty Mall. More details about tickets and schedule can be found here.

2. Fals tratat de mântuire a sufletului (dir. Nicolae Margineanu, drama) – Toma is an inspector at The National Council for Studying Security Archives. Almost all the knowledge that he transfers to his younger subordinate is about revenge and threats, hoping to transform him in a ‘security men hunter’. But Radu, who didn’t experience the life during communism, doesn’t really agree with his methods. At some point, the team investigates a case which highlights not only the collaboration between Father Iustin and the Communist security but also a criminal act. At the end of a confrontation between principles and energies, nothing will be the same.

The film can be seen for the first time during the entire weekend at Grand Cinema & More. Here you can find information about tickets and schedule.

3. Licu, a Romanian Story (dir. Ana Dumitrescu, documentary) – the film is a metaphor about the inner being and ephemerality, a lesson about life, but also a century of survival. For 92 years, Licu suffered, loved, laughed and cried. Romania in the last century seen by Licu.

‘Licu, a Romanian story’ is scheduled on Friday, September 21^st, at Cinemateca Eforie, starting at 17:00.

Films for home:

1. Hawaii (dir. Jesús del Cerro, action/drama) – Jesús del Cerro brings Hawaii, a story about the struggle of inheriting $3 million in a communist Romania, when owning $1 could mean losing your freedom. This is an action film, about love and about how money could buy if not happiness, at least the freedom to choose unhappiness. Hawaii features Dragoș Bucur in the leading role.

The film will be broadcasted on Saturday, September 22^nd, on CineMAX and CineMAX HD, at 17:00.

2. Philanthropy (dir. Nae Caranfil, comedy) – A classic of the Romanian cinema, the film can be seen during this weekend on Antena Stars. In 21^st century Bucharest, going out on a date with a beautiful woman is a risky financial investment, which Ovidiu (Mircea Diaconu), a modest high-school teacher, could not afford. But, he has to do it because he fell madly in love with Diana (Viorica Vodă), a young woman aged 20 with supermodel ambitions. Looking for extra money besides his poor teacher salary, Ovidiu becomes part of a fabulous world – the mafia of the beggars.

Philanthropy can be seen on Antena Stars on Saturday, September 22^nd, at 20:45 and on Sunday, September 23^rd, at 00:30.

3. 127 Hours (dir. Danny Boyle, biography/drama) – is the true story of the remarkable adventure of the mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco) in saving himself after he got trapped under a boulder which crashed his arm, while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah.

Here are three fun facts about 127 hours:

• Aron Ralston filmed a daily video diary while he was stuck in the canyon; parts of the video diary were shown on a televised special about his entrapment, however, most of the footage has only been shown to close friends and family and is kept in a bank vault for safety. Before shooting began, both James Franco and director Danny Boyle were allowed to view the footage in order to accurately portray the events in the movie.
• The camera used by James Franco in the film was the actual one Aron Ralston used when he was trapped in Blue John Canyon.
• To make James Franco’s portrayal of Aron Ralston as accurate as possible, the real Ralston told director Danny Boyle to have Franco recite lyrics from the jam band Phish, Ralston’s favorite band.

The film is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd, 17:25 and on Sunday, September 23rd, at 11:05, on HBO 2 and HBO 2 HD.

Romina Banu

Photographer and editor; she co-founded Dissolved Magazine together with Melissa. For Films in Frame she gathers film and TV series recommendations for lazy weekends and she writes about interesting projects from the film industry. Other than that, she likes traveling, chilling with her cats and sleeping.