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TIFF Romania: Selfie Review

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By on Film Festival, Reviews, TIFF Romania 2014

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Selfie (2014)

Cast: Velea Alex, Alex Calin, Florin Calinescu
Director: Cristina Iacob
Country: Romania
Genre: Comedy

Editor’s Notes: The following review is apart of our coverage of the Transilvania International Film Festival. For more information visit http://tiff.ro/en and follow TIFF Romania on Twitter at @tiffromania.

It is an extremely easy thing for a filmmaker to try just that little bit too hard. Whether it is a need to express or reiterate their message or the irresistible temptation to include more exposition or action than is required, it is a common failing that requires discipline to overcome. Sadly, with her new film Selfie, co-writer and director Cristina Iacob has fallen into these traps and the result is somewhat confused.

Yasmine (Crina Semciuc), Roxi (Olimpia Melinte) and Ana (Flavia Hojda) are three best friends who are due to take their finals in a few days. At their school prom they decide that what they really need is some excitement and head to the seaside for partying and adventure. Over the next two days they discover there is more to each other than they thought and the friendship they assumed would never end becomes increasingly strained.

There is something almost episodic about their adventures as if the story would have been better served as a series.

selfie._2-1There are many things to like and enjoy in Selfie but there is just too much going on for it to be wholly successful. The mishaps that befall the three girls, and the three men they become reluctantly entwined with, vary from the comic to the tragic, but also from the vaguely ridiculous to the downright preposterous. This results in a catalogue of events that never quite sit comfortably together in the narrative and as such becomes a tiresome viewing experience at times. There is also confusion in the tone as scenes of genuinely heart-warming interaction are mixed with contrary moments of drunk driving and questionable intentions, and sporadic exchanges of dialogue laced with malice and aggression remove any empathy the viewer has developed for the trio. There is something almost episodic about their adventures as if the story would have been better served as a series.

On the plus side the film is well acted and directed, at least from a visual point of view. The three leads perform well in their roles although the somewhat forced depth the characters are given becomes a little clichéd as various cinematic tropes are revealed. The support cast provides the majority of the humour with Ana’s father Nico (Razvan Vasilescu) giving an entertaining performance as an old fashioned disciplinarian pining for the good old days under Ceausescu. The cultural clash he experiences as he pursues his errant daughter thankfully lightens some of the overwrought melodrama and generates some of the best scenes in the film.

Despite the messy narrative, Iacob has demonstrated a natural talent with the camera, taking the viewer inside the events of the story without ever feeling invasive…

Despite the messy narrative, Iacob has demonstrated a natural talent with the camera, taking the viewer inside the events of the story without ever feeling invasive and this does promise stronger things to come with a more streamlined script; at over two hours Selfie is just too long by at least twenty minutes.

Selfie is very much a contradictory film and will probably divide audiences. It is a clear homage to youth, recklessness and of having a carefree attitude before the dark spectre of adulthood and responsibility must be faced but while encouraging these traits it doesn’t wholly convince of their benefits and portrays mixed consequences. There is an impressive film hidden within the baggy running time but you have to really look to see it.

5.5 Mediocre

Selfie is very much a contradictory film and will probably divide audiences. It is a clear homage to youth, recklessness and of having a carefree attitude before the dark spectre of adulthood and responsibility must be faced but while encouraging these traits it doesn’t wholly convince of their benefits and portrays mixed consequences. There is an impressive film hidden within the baggy running time but you have to really look to see it.

  • 5.5
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About Author

My interest in film originated from the excited anticipation of waiting to find out which new film would be shown on television as the Christmas Day premiere, which probably says more about my age than I would like! I am a lover of all things cinematic with a particular interest in horror and began writing and reviewing as an excuse to view and discuss as many films as possible, with as many people as possible.

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