From writer/director Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days), this gripping drama set in rural Transylvania looks at the ethnic conflicts, economic resentments and personal turmoil roiling a Romania still in thrall to some dangerous traditions and beliefs. Quitting his job in Germany, Matthias (Marin Grigore) returns to his multi-ethnic village to be more involved in the education of his young son. He’s also eager to see his ex-lover, Csilla (Judith State). When a few foreign workers are hired at the small factory that Csilla manages, the peace of the community is disturbed, underlying bigotry grips the adults, and frustrations, conflicts and passions erupt through the thin veneer of apparent understanding and calm. Although some may think that the title refers to the director’s homeland, Mungiu says, “‘R.M.N.’ in English is NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance – basically a brain investigation. Given how the world looks today, I feel we need one.” –Alissa Simon
Director Biography
Arguably one of the world’s great directors, Cristian Mungiu has established himself as the nonpareil master of the Romanian New Wave. His films have won numerous prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, and other festivals around the world. They include 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007), Beyond the Hills (2012), and Graduation (2016). R.M.N. (2022) is his latest feature.