Watch 12:08 East of Bucharest

12:08 East of Bucharest is a Romanian film from 2006, directed by Corneliu Porumboiu. It is a satirical comedy that takes place in a small town in Romania on the 22nd anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the communist regime. The film deals with the theme of social and political change, asking whether the revolution really meant anything for the ordinary citizens of the country.

The story takes place over one day, starting at 6:00 am and leading up to 12:08 pm, when the revolution was supposed to have started in the small town. The film is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different character, and all of them trying to organize a televised talk show about the revolution.

The first character we meet is Tibi, a small-time local celebrity who hosts a radio phone-in show. He is convinced that the revolution did not happen in their town at the designated time of 12:08 pm, and sets out to prove it on his television show. He invites two guests to join him in the studio: Manescu, a retired history teacher, and Piscoci, a weary old man who was a drunk during the revolution.

As they prepare for the show, Tibi, Manescu and Piscoci face many obstacles: technical difficulties, lack of interest from potential viewers, and disagreements about what exactly happened on the day of the revolution. Meanwhile, the city is preparing for a parade to celebrate the anniversary, and the characters encounter various obstacles as they try to make their way to the studio.

The second part of the movie starts when the talk show is finally underway. The three characters are seated around a table in a poorly-lit studio, discussing the events of December 22, 1989. Manescu claims that he was one of the few who went to the city square that day to overthrow the communist regime, but Piscoci does not remember anything about the day due to the fact he was very drunk. They debate the merits of the revolution and try to recall any major events that happened.

The third part of the movie takes place around the town during and after the parade. The characters wander through the town, as Manescu tries to find a Christmas tree that he has left somewhere in his old age. Tibi tries to find an audience for his TV show, while Piscoci reflects on the past and his place in the present.

The cinematography of the movie is done in an understated manner, with long takes, simple camera movements and naturalistic lighting. The emphasis is on the dialogue, which is naturalistic, and the facial expressions of the characters. The tone of the movie is melancholic, with moments of absurd humour.

12:08 East of Bucharest is an intelligent, thoughtful and funny movie that deals with a very serious and weighty subject matter. Director Corneliu Porumboiu creates an excellent balance between the subject matter and the lightness of the comedy. The characters are fleshed out well and have a good chemistry, while the symbolism of the Christmas tree is particularly effective. The film is a fascinating insight into Romanian culture and recent history, and is well worth watching for its own merits, and for the opportunity to learn something about the country in which it was made.

12:08 East of Bucharest is a 2006 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 77.