The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

The Death of Mr. Lazarescu follows an aging, ailing Romanian man named Dante Lazarescu through a nightmarish odyssey across multiple Bucharest hospitals, where overworked and indifferent medical staff repeatedly turn him away. Directed by Cristi Puiu in a raw, documentary-style approach, the film is a devastating critique of institutional indifference and the loneliness of dying. It became a landmark of Romanian cinema and earned widespread international acclaim for its unflinching realism and moral weight.

• The film runs nearly 2.5 hours with no musical score.
• Director Cristi Puiu based it on a real Romanian incident.
• All medical procedures shown are reportedly accurate and realistic.
• The film launched the Romanian New Wave cinema movement globally.
• Non-professional actors mixed with professionals throughout the entire film.

• I'm not drunk. I'm sick.
• You drink, you smoke, you live alone. What do you expect?
• He's not my problem anymore.
• A man is dying and nobody cares.
• You smell of alcohol, Mr. Lazarescu.