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”