The first Romanian film to win the Golden Bear, Child’s Pose has been described by critics as providing a snapshot of the Romanian nouveaux riches while at the same time exploring the relationship between children and parents. But here’s the director himself talking about the essence of his film:

Calin Peter Netzer: “My film is about a pathological relationship between a woman and her son. It’s about the Oedipus complex, and this Freudian relationship forms the basis of the film. Everything that happens around this story, from the car accident to corruption, forms the background, the reality in Romania today as my scriptwriter Razvan and I saw it when we wrote the script and as we still perceive it. I think the film has been so well received in Berlin and by critics because it tells a universal story. Even corruption, this can also happen in other countries, maybe not at the same level, but you can perfectly imagine it happening in other countries as well.”

A domineering woman from the country’s nouveaux riches does everything she possibly can to prevent her son from going to prison after he kills a teenager in a car accident. This is what the film is about in a nutshell. Luminita Gheorghiu, a constant presence in the productions of the Romanian New wave, makes a wonderful role as the mother. Variety magazine praised her for her acting, saying she delivers one of the most remarkable performances in Berlin in her role as a mature woman.

The Golden Bear is the second most important award won by Romanian cinema after Cristi Puiu’s 4 Months, 3 Week and 2 Days, which won the Palme d’Or award in Cannes in 2007. In 2010, Florin Serban’s If I want to Whistle, I Whistle won the Silver Bear in Berlin and the Alfred Bauer award given to a film that opens new perspectives in film art. The film’s lead actress Ada Condeescu was selected to participate in this year’s Shooting Stars programme in Berlin, whose aim is to promote Europe’s most talented actors.