Romanian Film „Concertul” By Radu Mihaileanu Gets Six Nominations At César Awards

„Le concert/ Concertul” is nominated for a César award in the categories „best film”, „vest original script”, „best music”, „best sound”, „best editing” and „best director”. In the category „best director”, Mihaileanu is up against Jacques Audiard and Philippe Lioret („Welcome”).

The César Awards are the French equivalent of the Oscars.

Upon hearing of the nominations, Mihaileanu told MEDIAFAX that he is „surprised and very happy.”

„I am happy that so far I have had more than two million viewers in France”, Mihaileanu said. „The most important thing is that I have gained viewers,” the director said, adding his film will also be premiered in Italy (in February), Canada (March), Japan (April) and in the United States (in summer).

The dramatic comedy „Le concert/ Concertul”, which had its Romanian premiere on November 20, 2009, revolves around Andrei Filipov, conductor of the Bolshoi Theater orchestra and the greatest conductor in the Soviet Union, fired at the peak of his career because he refused to part ways with his Jewish musicians. Thirty years later, Filipov is still working at the Bolshoi Theater, but as a janitor, when, one night, while cleaning the office of the director, he steals a fax reading that the Russian orchestra was invited to play in Paris, at the famous Pleyel hall. Thus, he calls his former colleagues and they decide to pass as the members of the Bolshoi Orchestra.