The focus of Uricaru and co-writer Tatiana Ionascu’s script are marginal folk struggling to make a living in a worsening economic climate, many of them recent newcomers to the country. The presence of leading Romanian auteur Cristian Mungiu will open further international doors for this bittersweet fable of optimistic dreams coming up against the realities of an often cruel world.
Built around an excellent, harrowingly sensitive lead performance by Malina Manovici, it was one of the standout world premieres at this year’s Berlinale, where its combination of quiet style and provocative content played well with audiences.
immigration and inappropriate sexual contact are empathetically explored in Lemonade, a strong debut feature from Romanian writer-director Ioana Uricaru.
