Against the Odds

The program Against the Odds comprises several very attentively executed portraits of people who seek ways to defy their circumstances and prove themselves surprisingly resourceful when driven into a corner. There is no limit to the range of hardships life can throw in our path. They may take the form of illness, physical challenge, financial crisis, personal or professional failure, social exclusion and many more. Whether they find themselves in life-and-death situations, in search of a balance between the sane and the insane or simply in pursuit of a personal ambition, the protagonists of the films in this section are adamant in following their goal.

The highly entertaining documentary Erwin for Mayor follows the charismatic yet slippery political activist Erwin Albu during his election campaign for the office of mayor of a Transylvanian town.

Hum deals with the ways in which mental illness can work both as an inspiration for the artist and as a relief in someone’s struggle with oneself.

The captivating documentary The Brotherhood observes a highly unusual Romanian footbal team, which advances ideals of equality and harmonious co-existence and count among its players a one-armed goalkeeper.

 The Contestant depicts the adventure on which a single mother embarks when getting accepted to take part in a TV quiz show which might help her ensure her family’s financial future.

 With subtlety, Story of Fatat observes the efforts of a woman who tries to find the strenght to escape war and overcome loss, hoping she might ensure a better future for herself and her son.

 Off the beaten path portrays a woman who is willing to find alternative ways for spreading the word of God, defying the stubborn conservatism of the Church that prevented her from fullfilling her dream of becoming a priest.

Curatorial text and films presentations by Ioana Florescu