The film that I chose to go see at the Cleveland International Film Festival was "If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle". I was really excited about going to the film festival because I had never been to one before. I was kind of surprised that it was in the Tower City Cinema. When I first arrived I didn't really know where to go, I was just wandering around the building hoping to find some signs. Eventually I found some volunteers who were also just walking around and followed them to where I needed to be going. The people were extremely nice and once I was in the cinema section of Tower City it was a lot easier to know where I needed to be going. Before the film began the son of the former Romanian Counsel spoke on his deceased father's behalf. It was very emotional and helped set the tone for the film that was about to be viewed.
A. Personal Issues
I wish that the audience was given more background information on Silviu. There was no specific reason addressed as to why he was in prison, and I believe that this is important information. There are countless reasons as to why someone could be sentenced to serve time in jail, and the crime committed can really reflect one's character. Someone would view someone who robbed a bank a lot differently than they would person who murdered a person. This also could explain why he reacts the way he does in the last few scenes of the film. The audience watches Silvui struggle with making the right decisions the entire movie but for the most part he does not stray too far from the right path; so why does he choose to do so at such a crucial time?
B. Technique
One element of the movie that I found startling impacting was the use of no background music. The only time that music was played during the film was when it was physically being played out of a stereo shown in the film. It added a very lonely and depressing tone. It really benefited the film by showing how alone these men were in these prisons. The dialogue was also very simple for the most part, but the simple language was able to convey a lot. It was direct and to the point. There wasn't much guessing of what was going on in the film. It was presented right in front of you. Some of the editing was a little choppy, but what goes smoothly when in jail? I do not know if this was done on purpose, but from the little knowledge I have on movies I believe that was. The whole movie tried to represent the uncertainties of the lives of men in jail. Also, I do not know this for sure but there was a shakiness to the picture that reminded me of it being shot with a camcorder or hand held video recorder. It really added to the tone of it being almost a home movie. It added a really intimate feeling to the story being told.
C. Acting
The main roles consisted of Silvui, a boy serving time in prison after his mother abandoned him, the warden who is in charge of the penitentiary, and Ana, an intern who is helping tutoring the inmates. When I was researching the film after I watched it, I was shocked to discover that the inmates who were cast were actual, real-life convicts. They did a sensational job of portraying their role in the film. It was very convincing and I would have never guessed that they were not trained actors.
D. Plot
The film takes place in a Romanian jail in which young male adults are serving time for their crimes. Silvui, the main character, has fifteen days left of his sentence when his brother comes to visit him with some upsetting news. Their mother has come back, from wherever she has been, and wants to take his younger brother away from him. She plans on taking his younger brother to Italy with her, and this causes for Silvui to fall into a downward spiral. Silvui's mother has been quick and notorious for abandoning her sons and has relied on Silvui to raise his younger brother for eight long years. He is infuriated by this proposition and quickly begins making foolish mistakes. In a last attempt to stop his mother from taking away his brother he assaults an officer and holds his woman of interest hostage. While watching the movie I could not relate it to any other film that I had previously seen. I really enjoyed its originality of trying to incorporate the struggles of trying to deal with outside world from behind bars.
E. Themes
I would have to say that the theme of this film is best described as a complex theme. The theme actually reminded me a lot of the themes that were found in my film study guide for "The Matrix". It is based on the issues of perceptions and having everything not be as it seems. Silvui is a boy who appears to be defying the legal systems but really he is only trying to help provide and protect for him and his brother. The question then is, at what cost and extremes should we go to to fight for what we believe in? The message is completely integrated into the whole film from beginning to end. It reflects why he is in jail in the first place. It reflects why he is picked on, and why he picks on others. It reflects why he chooses to stand by the fence to see who dropped off his brother. It reflects why he holds Ana hostage and why he wants to take her to coffee.
F. It is really hard for me to pinpoint a genre for this film to be placed in. I went over several different genres in my head and none of them really did this movie justice. I saw the film with both of my parents and brother so I presented the question to them too. After talking about the film amongst ourselves, I asked them if they could place the film into one specific genre and they all looked at me like I was nuts. We tried breaking it down and the best description we could pick for it is a fictional documentary. It was not a true story but that does not mean that these stories could not have happened at some point in the past, or even future. It goes through all of the notions that one would go through in a typical day in jail and there is an undertone of realness that is undeniable. It is completely unique and I'm really happy that out of all the films at the festival I chose to see this one.
G. Representation
This film represents the men and women of Romania and the struggles that they must overcome in their lives. We do not know much about their social status, level of education, religious beliefs, and so forth, but we do know that they have questionable character and that some of them are trying to better themselves. I believe they are represented this way to convey to the audience that it doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, good or evil, it just matters that you use your resources to the best of your abilities to overcome your weaknesses.
H.Ideology
One major ideology that I noticed in this film was the desire for love. This was mentioned several times amongst the inmates. The scenes with dialogue were all very purposeful and intentive and the talk of girls is no exception. Silvui's desire to take a girl out for a cup of coffee is very prominent. I think this is so important to him because of the lack of love he got from his mother. No matter what part of the world one is in, it is still important to feel loved and wanted.
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