The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, a movie directed by Romanian Cristi Puiu, proved to be the surprise choice film of the year for many independent film critics.

The Romanian production topped the Indiewire Critics Poll, and can be found in many top 10's for foreign movies of the year, despite a mere $80,000 box-office gross. Poor marketing strategy, people too lazy to watch movies with subtitles, who knows?

Second feature film for Cristi Puiu

Only the second feature film of the director, it's the story of the final hours of an old man, who calls an ambulance, complaining of headaches and stomachaches. He is then carried from doctor to doctor, and from hospital to hospital, as his condition worsens and until there is nothing that can be done for him.

The movie is full of bleak humor, a satire against a health system paralysed by bureaucracy and the incompetence or indifference of the medical staff.

If you have the occasion to see this movie, i strongly encourage you to do so. You will be surprised by its realism and it will make you think about the frailty of all of our lives.