Wow wow wow wow. Radu Jude is just so good. First off, this film was made in the crispest, most breathtakingly beautiful black and white. And it's
funny... for a long time! It moves through its first act with a sort of silliness and easy farce that is quite delightful. And then the racism of 19th century Romania emerges, slowly, along with, of course, the abject poverty of the people who are at the center of
Aferim!, people who live in stark contrast to the wealthy Turkish merchants and boyars, who treat the poor like dirt. But then the film just takes a turn: the main character sells a young Romani boy despite his desperate pleas. And then things get worse. The film maintains its buoyant tone, but
Aferim! moves almost inexorably toward something truly atrocious, and when it gets to where it is headed, it's stunning, insane, and merciless.
I was familiar with Jude's Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, and incisive, whip smart analysis of contemporary Romanian prejudices, corruption, racism, and misogyny. And Aferim! is obviously of a piece with work like that – its critique analyzes contemporary misogyny by finding its underlying bases. But Aferim! really took my breath away. It's just does not shy away from the consequences of slavery and racial capitalism. This is a hard movie. And it's excellent.
