Hooked / Pescuit Sportiv (2008)

Director: Adrian Sitaru
Screenwriter: Adrian Sitaru
Cast: Adrian Titieni, Ioana Flora, Maria Dinulescu
Running time: 84 min.

The debut feature by Romanian director Adrian Sitaru – already acclaimed for his short films – follows the story of a young couple whose lives are turned so completely upside down over the course of a few hours that they reach a point of no return.
Mihai is a stressed-out teacher from Bucharest. After a trying week, he and his lover Sweetie decide to go on a picnic. However, the day takes a sharp turn when Sweetie accidentally runs over Ana, a prostitute who was lying in the road on their way out of town. Not realizing she is actually still alive, they attempt to bury the body in a nearby forest, and when Ana unexpectedly recovers, they feign concern for her well-being.
What ensues is a thrilling study of character and conscience. Ana joins the couple’s picnic and then gradually ingratiates herself into their lives, manipulating them and playing them off each other. As Ana riles the lovers’ tempers, stirring up jealousy and infidelity and feeding their insecurities, their relationship becomes irreparably changed.

Awards / Festivals
- Jury Award: New Voices/New Visions Award (Palm Springs Int’l Film Society) 2009
- Best Actress (Ioana Flora; Maria Dinulescu) (Thessaloniki Int’l Film Festival) 2008
- Special Jury Award – Silver Alexander (Thessaloniki Int’l Film Festival) 2008
- Official Selection (Venice Int’l Film Festival) 2008
- Official Selection (Toronto Int’l Film Festival) 2008

** Q & A session with actress Maria Dinulescu to follow screening.

“The Unveiling of Contemporary Romanian Cinema”

Inspired by the primacy of things present and organized by the ToRo Arts Group with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute, romaniancinemaNOW: The 2nd Annual Toronto-Romanian Film Festival will be running from February 13th to the 15th (2009) and will emphasize the extent to which “things peripheral,” often manifesting themselves on the borders of the mainstream and the commercial, continue to inspire a less-ironic, less-tragic and less-miserable understanding of the idiosyncrasies of the everyday.

Screenings will be held at:

Innis Town Hall – 2 Sussex Ave
*click for map

Bloor Cinema – 526 Bloor St.  (West)
*click for map

*click on each day for full program & film info
Friday, February 13 – Opening Night
19:00 – Opening Night – Bloor Cinema
23:00 – Opening Night Reception – TBA

Saturday, February 14 – Doc. Day – documentary screenings co-presented by
12:00 – Shorts Programme 1 – Innis Town Hall
15:00 – Doc.Day Shorts 1 – Innis Town Hall
18:00 – Doc.Day Shorts 2 – Innis Town Hall
21:00 – Doc.Day Feature – Bloor Cinema

Sunday, February 15 – Indie/Debuts. Day
12:00 – Shorts Programme 2 – Innis Town Hall
15:00 – Indie / Debut Feature 1 – Innis Town Hall
18:00 – Indie / Debut Feature 2 – Innis Town Hall
21:00 – Indie / Debut Feature 3 – Bloor Cinema

Tickets

Advance tickets ($8 student, $12 adult), as well as day and festival passes will be available until February 1st, 2009, at the UofT Tix box office, located at 7 Hart House Circle, by visiting the UofT Tix website, at www.uofttix.ca, or by calling the box office directly at 416-978-8849.

After February 1st, tickets will be $10 for students and $15 for adults, day and festival passes also reflecting this change in price.

PROGRAM
* Please be advised that ToRo Arts Group reserves the right to modify and/or alter the evening’s program
so as to meet all necessary legal and copyright requirements. All changes made will arrive with due noti-
fication.