Director Cristi Puiu Says It’s ‘Inhuman’ to Watch His New Movie with a Mask On

Romanian director Cristi Puiu will always be known as the filmmaker who gave us 2006’s masterful “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu,” one of the very best movies of the 2000s and a scathing indictment on the Romanian health care system. ‘Lazarescu’ clocked in at 153 minutes, whereas his ensuing films (“Aurora” and “Sieranevada”) were just over three hours in length.

Puiu’s latest, the philosophical historical drama “Malmkrog,” goes even further, running a staggering 200 minutes. However, a recent screening of the film turned some heads, as Puiui, while presenting it at the Transylvania International Film Festival, wasn’t shy in showing his distaste at wearing a mask while watching his 3-hour movie. During his intro, Puiu went as far as to call enforced mask-wearing policies “inhuman” and launched into a speech stating that, while the virus is real, the “tone of the authorities is unacceptable.” [via Romania Journal]

OK, I understand, social distancing, and the obligation to wear a face mask in open air in Cluj. OK, I am sorry for you, it is a 200-minute film. To stay with your mask on while watching a 200-minute film is inhuman. And I kindly ask you to leave when you feel like leaving, when you think you cannot bear the mask anymore. If you are here and watch a film today, it’s because some undisciplined people in Romania said ‘No’ to dictatorship in December 1989. The established ruling would better talk to people, have a dialogue, not treat us like some cattle. Yes, there is this problem, there is an epidemic, there is a virus, but the tone of the authorities is unacceptable.

I find it absolutely amazing that people are disciplined and careful about all details in Cluj and I absolutely think that any abuse must be fined. And if you don’t do it by voting this time, nobody will do it. And I know people are scared and I respect the social distancing and I wear masks in any enclosed space. But if tomorrow you’ll be asked to walk with your hands, you’ll do it. I am very sorry, and I know you do not all agree with me and you are afraid of the pandemic. You should be afraid of some other, more serious things instead.

As Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” rolls into mainstream theaters in the coming weeks, there will be lots of debate about the topic of mask-wearing at the movies. Most theater chains such as AMC and Regal have fairly relaxed mask rules, but, on a city-by-city basis, those rules could be altered by the Governor of those states. Nolan’s film clocks in at a lengthy 153 minutes, but social distancing protocols have been put into place for screenings as theaters will not be more than 50% full, in some states it’ll be even lower than that.

“Malmkrog” premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival back in February and will play in the Main Slate at this October’s New York Film Festival (that is if the NY-based festival doesn't; decide to “cancel” Puiu after these recent comments).