De capul nostru

This terrific coming-of-age film tells a story of growing up largely without parents, of the complex world of becoming an adult when the adults aren’t there. It’s the story of Flavia, autonomous and a bit uncouth, Flavia, whose mother works as a carer in Italy, her father on a construction site. She’s adopted a certain sarcasm she uses even with Luca, with whom she flirts in a cool way, the attraction is strong. Luca’s parents aren’t there either and his grandmother is fragile, meaning he is the one more or less taking care of his sister Tina – who brings home two more kids with her one day. Fears of commitment and emotional blockages dwindle and like in an adolescent novel, a self-chosen alternative family forms almost in passing, whereby living in freedom, critical relationships and taking care of one another are a given. Carried by Andrei Butică’s precise, yet loose-limbed camerawork and atmospheric direction inspired by Pialat and Rohmer, the adolescent ensemble takes on responsibility – and gets in the driving seat. Whether visiting caves in the forest or everyday life in a prefab block: their intelligence and vigour are delightful, the dynamics of their shared bonds subtle. (Cristiane Büchner)

Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, born in Mediaș, Romania, in 1984, Tudor Cristian Jurgiu studied film directing at the National University of Drama and Film in Bucharest, where he later completed an MA and PhD and now teaches scriptwriting and directing. His short films were selected and awarded at major international festivals, including Cannes, Leeds IFF and Zagreb. His feature debut The Japanese Dog premiered in the New Directors section of San Sebastián and went on to win Best Film awards at Vilnius and Warsaw IFF. His second feature, And They May Still Be Alive Today, premiered in 2020.

Director Tudor Cristian Jurgiu. Screenplay Anca Buja, Tudor Cristian Jurgiu. Cinematography Andrei Butică. Editing Alexandru Popescu. Music Marco Biscarini, Mihai Ghiță. Sound Design Riccardo Nanni. Production Design Sonia Constantinescu. Costumes Alexandra Alma Ungureanu. Make-Up Adele Mastrocola. Casting Florentina Bratfanof. Producers Tudor Giurgiu, Bogdan Crăciun. Executive Producer Oana Bujgoi Giurgiu. Co-Producers Simone Catania, Francesca Portalupi. Production company Libra Films (Bukarest, Romania). With Denisa Vraja, Vlad Furtună, Mara Diaconu-Ducica, Sofia Vasiliu, Dominique Toma.

World sales True Colours

Films: 2009: Nunta lui Oli / Oli’s Wedding (short film). 2013: În acvariu / In the Fishbowl (short film), Câinele Japonez / The Japanese Dog. 2020: …poate mai trăiesc și azi / And They May Still Be Alive Today, Basmofilia / Fairy Fever (short film). 2026: De capul nostru / On Our Own.