Credited with being the first ripple in what was later to be called the Romanian New Wave, Stuff and Dough stands tall and strong, some more than 15 years later. It gracefully captures the whole grit and slime of Romania at the turn of the century, without becoming captive in masochistic admiration of its superb ugliness. Instead it follows youth. On a mission to deliver a suspicious package from the seaside to the capital, the three, in a brilliant interpretation by Alexandru Papadopol, Dragos Bucur and Ioana Flora, are simply let loose. To being young. Dialogue feels raw and improvised at many times, the relationship between the two male friends is a feat to observe, and as time goes by, we begin to understand that the film is one giant metaphor for the country, always moving, hungry for a quick win, looking for the shortcut, getting nowhere. The story becomes a vehicle for a deeper truth. Ecstatic or what?
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