JAPANESE DOG - Special screening

Romania 2013 • 85 minutes • Romanian with English subtitles (advised 16) • Romanian title: Cainele japonez

Plus Q&A with lead actor Victor Rebengiuc

This moving directorial debut focuses on the reconciliation between a father and his prodigal son who emigrated many years ago. This is a beautifully directed chamber piece that profits from an exceptional performance by Victor Rebengiuc.

Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Serban Pavlu, Laurentiu Lazar, Kana Hashimoto, Ioana Abur, Alexandrina Halic

VICTOR REBENGIUC is one of the most distinguished Romanian stage and screen actors, a real acting legend with a career spanning more than 50 years. He is also renowned as a civil society activist.

In 1957, he made his debut as a member of the famous Bulandra Theatre company, acting in more than 200 roles on that stage alone.

With his breakthrough performance in Liviu Ciulei’s The Forest of the Hanged (Padurea spanzuraților) Rebengiuc became a major figure in Romanian cinema, idolised for his 1988 appearance in Stere Gulea’s Moromeții. He has also starred in films by Dan Pița (Tanase Scatiu; Sand Cliffs - Faleze de nisip) and Lucian Pintilie (Carnival Scenes - De ce trag clopotele, Mitica?; The Oak - Balanta; Too Late - Prea tarziu; Last Stop Paradise - Terminus paradis; Niki and Flo - Niki Ardelean, colonel in rezerva; Tertium non datur).

Victor Rebengiuc has worked with all the greats of Romanian cinematography while also working for younger directors such as Cristi Puiu, Radu Muntean, Lucian Georgescu, Călin Peter Netzer and Tudor Cristian Jurgiu.

“Tudor Cristian Jurgiu makes a quietly impressive debut with this deceptively simple tale of a father and son. Handsomely shot to privilege nature’s prime position in rural life, this (...) tale, told in beautifully self-contained scenes (...), boasts a sterling performance by Victor Rebengiuc, the best-known Romanian actor of his generation, in a role of unassuming dignity.” (Jay Weissberg, Variety)

Director’s biography:
TUDOR CRISTIAN JURGIU graduated in 2009 from the Film and TV Directing department of the UNATC. In 2009, he made Oli's Wedding, which won the Best Short Film award in Leeds and Anonimul Film Festivals, the Best Romanian Short award NexT 2009 Festival and the Best Short of the Year trophy at the Gopo Awards 2010. His latest short, In the Fishbowl, is the recipient of the 3rd prize award of Cannes' Cinefondation section.