“Bad Luck Banging Or Loony Porn” won the Golden Bear
The Romanian film “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn” directed by Radu Jude was the winner of Golden Bear prize on 71st Berlin film festival. This might be a surprise taking into consideration that the competition included films such as the new Céline Sciamma’s film “Petite Maman” and “Next Door”, the debut film of Daniel Brühl. This however isn’t true, since Radu Jude has been previously awarded with a Silver Bear for directing “Aferim!” (2015), a film that fully reflected the life in early 19th century Balkans. In his new film, Jude uses a satirical and theatrical view in order to present the fictional story of a Romanian school teacher who becomes the subject of a slut-shaming campaign after a sex tape she made gets posted online.
The Film
The film can be divided into three chapters. In the first chapter, Emi (Katia Pascariu), a school teacher, walks around Bucharest on a busy day in the middle of the pandemic. She looks neurotic, making anxious phone calls. Emi meets her head teacher (Claudia Ieremia) and the cause of Emi’s panic is revealed: the video made by her and her husband has found its way online and is now circulating around the school. All these are occured under a theatrical view.
The second chapter is a liitle bit different and unrelated to the first one. It is named as “dictionary” that includes terms, jokes and stereotypes, covering a range from “Military” to “Pornography” and from “Blonde Jokes” to “Blowjob”.
Finally, the third chapter returns to the theatrical mode. Emi has to face the accusations of her school’s parents at a meeting held, Due to pandemic, the meeting takes place in a bizarre courtyard. This part can be decribed as the rawest, since Emi has to deal the hypocrisy and the social critique.
Conclusion
The film doesn’t seem to be a masterpiece, but it is maybe the most innovative film of the year. I am really looking forward to see the ideas of Radu Jude used in directing this film.
Films So Good 