12:08 East of Bucharest (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:44
Fresh:42
Rotten:2
Average Rating:7.8/10
Consensus: With a witty script full of satirical overtones and dry humor, 12:08 East of Bucharest is a thoroughly enjoyable Romanian comedy.
Theatrical Release:17-08-2007
Synopsis: Gil-Scott Heron once wrote "the revolution will not be televised," but one Romanian newsman attempts to put his nation's revolution on the air after the fact in this satiric comedy from... [More]
Reviews for 12:08 East of Bucharest
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 4/5 |
Extremely clever filmmaking--sharp and very funny, but also challenging and packed with relevance. Full Review |
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4/5 |
The only problem with the new Romanian cinema seems to be titles few can easily remember - but some eccentricity is permissible when the films are so good. Full Review |
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4/5 |
A melancholy rumination on the failed hopes of Eastern Europe after the Cold War, infused with a sense of farce and the irrecoverable nature of the past. Full Review |
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A terrifically droll and slyly incisive comedy. Full Review |
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The central European tradition of failed aspirations, lost ideals and forlorn eccentrics goes back to early Forman, or indeed Chekhov, but the Latin Romanians bring their own awareness of the distant big city alternately beckoning and frightening. Full Review |
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4/5 |
It won the best first film award at Cannes; somehow, it doesn't seem quite substantial enough to justify that accolade. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Beautifully observed and very funny, this film is a real treat. Full Review |
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3/5 |
A funny, gentle film that understands the wearying nature of political upheaval. Full Review |
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4/5 |
A deadpan delight that offers further proof of Romania’s cinematic ascendance. Full Review |
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4/6 |
Black comedy with a subtle political edge. Full Review |
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Small-town values are rocked by the tide of history in Porumboiu's grimly funny and determinedly slight retrospective on the 1989 Romanian revolution. Full Review |
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Dry comedies from eastern Europe tend to cast a skeptical eye on anything and everything, which is certainly the case with Corneliu Porumboiu's debut feature. Full Review |
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 2/4 |
12:08 East of Bucharest is easier to admire than enjoy, funnier to describe than actually watch. Full Review |
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3/4 |
The movie provokes low-key laughs (yes, it's a comedy), but with a sad overtone. Full Review |
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5/6 |
Porumboiu’s satire about history and short memories is a modest, deadpan masterpiece. Full Review |
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Dryly funny throughout its first half, the film truly comes to life in its final 45 minutes. Full Review |
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Porumboiu starts off making a mordant slice of life, but he gradually entwines the personal and the historical, then ends on a poignant note. The story and situation are slight, but in the best possible way. Full Review |
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You will laugh till the streetlights blink on again in the damp Romanian twilight. Full Review |
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3.5/5 |
While 12:08 East of Bucharest could take more than one viewing to truly appreciate, it’s worth the commitment. Full Review |
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3/4 |
Porumboiu's minimalist approach concentrates the movie's focus on its mournful characters, so disillusioned with their post-Communist life they question the history that led to it. Full Review |
CommentLatest News for 12:08 East of Bucharest
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