Moartea domnului Lǎzǎrescu = The death of Mr. Lǎzǎrescu
(DVD) 

"The Coproduction Office presents"--Back of container.

Originally produced as a Romanian motion picture in 2005.

Special features: Interview with director Cristi Puiu [featurette] (46 min.); Perspective on the U.S. healthcare system with Dr. Fred Berlin [featurette] (12 min.); Theatrical trailer (2 min.); Tartan video new releases (7 min.); "Articles" booklet includes the essays "Failure may be cruel, but success can be sickening" by Alan Riding and "A tale from the Bucharest hospitals: Cristi Puiu on 'The Death of Mr. Lazarescu'" by Christoph Huber.

Imaginae [cinematography], Oleg Mutu ; camera, Andrei Buticǎ ; muzicǎ originalǎ, Andreea Pǎduraru ; montajul [editor], Dana Bunescu ; scenografia si costumele [scenery and costumes], Cristina Barbu ; consultanți medicali, Corneliu Dan Popescu, Bogdan Ovidiu Popescu, Lena Bujgol.

Ioan Fiscuteanu (Somnul Lǎzǎrescu), Luminița Gheorghiu (Mioara), Doru Ana (Sandu Sterian), Dana Dogaru (Mihaela Sterian), Ṣerban Pavlu (Gelu), Gabriel Spahiu (Leo), Florin Zamfirescu (Dr. Ardelean), Bogdan Dumitrache (Medic ecograf, Spitalul St. Spiridon), Dragoṣ Bucur (Miṣu), Dan Chiriac (Medic triaj Spitalul Universitar), Clara Vodǎ (Dr. Gina Filip), Adrian Titieni (Dr. Dragoṣ Popescu), Mihai Brǎtilǎ (Dr. Breslaṣu), Monica Bârlǎdeanu (Mariana), Mimi Brǎnescu (Dr. Miricǎ), Rodica Lazǎr (Dr. Laura Ṣerban), Alina Berzunțeanu (Dr. Zamfir), Simona Popescu (Asistentǎ), Mirela Cioabǎ (Marloara).

63 years old. Retired engineer. Widower. Cat lover. Heavy drinker. For Mr. Lǎzǎrescu, these are some facts that describe him and his life. After having a headache for four days, he decides to call for an ambulance. When it finally arrives, Mr. Lǎzǎrescu and the EMT, Mioara, begin a journey that will take all night. He's chosen an unfortunate day to become seriously ill--the hospitals are jammed with the injured from a bus accident. Because he is old and admits to drinking, Mr. Lǎzǎrescu is treated with disdain and scorn by nurses, variously ignored, diagnosed, roundly chastised, and passed off elsewhere by supercilious doctors. Mioara stays by his side, making it her mission to get one harried doctor or one pissy nurse to take Mr. Lǎzǎrescu's condition as seriously as she does. As a portrait of a broken medical system, the film is hopelessly depressing, but as a story of the callous impersonalization we inflict upon one another, it is timeless.

MPAA rating: Rated R for language and brief nudity.

DVD-9; Region 1, NTSC; Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, DTS 5.1 surround; anamorphic widescreen presentation, aspect ratio 1.85:1.

In Romanian with optional subtitles in English.

Winner, 2005 Cannes Film Festival "Un Certain Regard" Award--Cristi Puiu.