I once met someone who was Romanian by descent in an International Film Class. I scratched my head and finally gave up when she asked me for any good Romanian films she should check out. Looking at the history of this small nation, there really aren't a whole hell of a lot of noteworthy pictures to come from there. Puiu's film is perhaps the picture that will change that. A one film national cinema movement, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu has been popping up on film lists gallore this year, and the DVD has garnered enough attention on its own. The style of the film recalls so many comedy of beurocracy films from the past, and you can't help but feel frustrated at the red tape that never seems to end. I may not cite the film as a masterpiece, but as far as an introduction to Romanian cinema, I'd consider myself lucky to start here.