"Three Kilometres to the End of the World" Explores Repression in Rural Romania
Emanuel Parvu's film, "Three Kilometres to the End of the World," premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024. The drama unfolds in a remote Romanian village in the Danube delta, centering on Dragoi, played by Bogdan Dumitrache, a father deeply in debt, and his 17-year-old son, Adi, portrayed by Ciprian Chiujdea.
Dragoi discovers Adi has been brutally assaulted by the sons of a local moneylender. The assailants justify their actions by claiming to have seen Adi kissing a male tourist from Bucharest. The local police and religious figures, depicted with bureaucratic detachment, condone the attack, resulting in Adi's further humiliation and a forced exorcism by a local priest at his mother's request.
As the narrative progresses, both Dragoi and Adi grapple with compounded anger and embarrassment. Dragoi's initial belief—that the beating was due to his financial struggles—afforded him a grim sense of nobility. This is shattered as the truth of Adi's attack surfaces, reflecting the community's deep-seated homophobia and Dragoi's struggle with patriarchal pride.
Parvu's film scrutinizes the silent complicity and reactionary views of rural authorities, juxtaposing personal suffering with broader social critique. The sparse dialogue and intense scenarios underscore the isolation and moral rigidity of the village.
"Three Kilometres to the End of the World" stands out for its unflinching portrayal of repression and familial conflict, with its screening at Cannes highlighting international interest in Romanian cinema.