Cristian Mungiu (; b. 1968,
Iaşi) is a
Romanian filmmaker, winner of the
Palme d'Or in 2007.
After studying
English literature at the
University of Iaşi, he worked for a few years as a teacher and as a journalist. After that, he enrolled at the University of Film in
Bucharest to study
film directing. After graduating in 1998, Mungiu made several
short films. In 2002, he debuted with his first
feature film,
Occident.
Occident enjoyed critical success, winning prizes in several
film festivals and being featured in Director’s Fortnight at the
2002 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2007 Mungiu wrote and directed his second feature,
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. The film was received enthusiastically, attracting critical praise and being selected in the official competition at the
2007 Cannes Film Festival, where it eventually won the coveted Palme d'Or for feature film, marking the first time that prize was awarded to a Romanian filmmaker.
Mungiu has said that early
Miloš Forman and
Robert Altman are important filmmakers who influenced him. He also respects the realism of
Bicycle Thieves, among other famous realistic films. Mungiu is the brother of political analyst
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi.
Filmography as director
- 2000 Corul pompierilor (short)
- 2000 Nicio întâmplare (short)
- 2000 Zapping (short)
- 2002 Occident
- 2005 Lost and Found - segment Turkey Girl
- 2007 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Romanian title 4 luni, 3 săptămâni......
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