Radu Mihăileanu and Derek Jacobi with ”A History of Love” at TIFF

     The official premiere of the film Povestea iubirii/ A History of Love, the latest feature film by director Radu Mihăileanu, was held on 5 June, in Piața Unirii of Cluj-Napoca,

where 3,000 people were walked through images from the Poland of the `30 to present day New York. The film's premiere took place simultaneously also at Cinema City of AFI Cotroceni. Other two screenings followed, on 6 June, at Cinema Florin Piersic, and on 7 June, in Dâncu locality, Aghireșu Commune, near Cluj-Napoca, where the producers recreated forthe shooting a “shtetl”- a Jewish village from the Second World War. To this last TIFF screening, special guests were the villagers from Dâncu and from nearby localities, who watched with emotion the film shot in their home locality, and where most of those present had a small role. The event was celebrated with the traditional Romanian beverage palinca (slivovitz), and with cheese and bacon offered generously by the villagers to the crew returned there after almost two years since the shooting.
     The TIFF screenings were made with director Radu Mihăileanu and famous British actor Derek Jacobi in attendance. The Romanian actors and part of the crew also attended all three screenings. “I was very touched to see again the people fromDâncu. They are part of our team and I want to thank them for the warmth they received us in their houses and in their village.Without them, the titleA History of Lovewould have been impossible”, Radu Mihăileanu stated. In his turn, Sir Derek Jacobi was charmed by the picturesque landscapes and by the local people: “I am very happy I could attend this screening. Although I didn't film here, I was met with so much warmth. I love this village and I am proud I could bring joy on the villagers' faces.”
A History of Loveis a France-Canada-Belgium-Romania, the Romanian co-producerbeing Libra Film. The shootings took placein Cluj andBucharest, in Montreal and New York. Important scenes were shot inDâncu village ofAghireșu commune and in several locations of Cluj (the Synagogueon Horea Street, the National Theatre, the Central Park, the Faculty of Chemistry). At the same time with the national premiere, Humanitas Fiction Publishing House released a new edition of the book „A History of Love”, by Nicole Krauss, translated by AntoanetaRalian, with the film's poster on the cover. The book is available in bookstores.
Starting on 9 June, the film is to be distributed by Transilvania Film in over 50 cinemas from 25 cities in the country.
Full screening programme.