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Otto the Barbarian: Patriarchy, Feminism, and Romanian New Wave Cinema
- Source: Film Matters, Volume 12, Issue 3, Dec 2021, p. 153 - 163
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- 01 Dec 2021
Abstract
The film Otto the Barbarian, on the surface, tells the coming-of-age story of a teenager living in Romania coping with the suicide of a friend. This film, however, also uses character perspective to subversively redress gender relations in post Communist Romania. Themes of self-harm, silence, display, and age are woven into the film to subtly challenge traditional gender roles. Director Ruxandra Ghițescu uses a cinematic style similar to many Romanian New Wave films to focus on a handful of characters. These characters tell a story of youth and communication but also an underlying story of status.
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