SunnyHello
Nice effects though.
Sharkflei
Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.
FirstWitch
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Francene Odetta
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
orangejumper
I loved this movie! A well crafted and thoughtful story, packed with interesting, quirky and funny characters from a community whose everyday lives are a literal mystery to the vast majority of those watching. The two main characters, young lads whose desire to help leads them to attempt to make real their fevered flights of fancy, embark on a road trip to what really was, for a brief period, the Hollywood of Romania - Cluj. How they get there, the comical encounters along the way, and the family secret ultimately revealed to them makes for a heart warming story that will bring a genuine smile to your face. No doubt this film was an act of passion for the Producers but for us, the audience, their no doubt herculean effort was truly worth it!
Mathijs Panhuijsen
You might expect a movie from Romania to deal with heavy subjects such as corruption, poverty and organized crime. "Usturoi" does none of the above. Instead, it's a light-hearted and often hilarious road movie/mockumentary that follows the exploits of two boys (both played by impressive and talented child actors) from the Romanian countryside who are looking to make money in the big city for entirely unselfish motives. Fast-paced and edited for optimal comedic effect by cutting back and forth between interviews with the movie's main players and the story as it unfolds, it's a feelgood movie from a region that too often has a "feelbad" reputation. Go see it!
sobephoto
Even for one who speaks no Romanian, the subtitles often seem superfluous. The impressive acting and wonderful direction convey meaning without the need for spoken words. Who am I to write a review; just a fellow photographer lucky enough to have been invited to a screening. What is "Garlic?" - Nothing more than a timeless "Romeo and Juliet" written into a modern setting yet addressing age old problems in the language of two naïve but intuitive preteen boys. It is a tragedy reinvented as a comedy through the antics of the younger brother and his best friend. Not since Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn has the camaraderie of two boys from disparate backgrounds in a small community represented a microcosm of contemporary society. The boys' perception of the "irrational" adult world leads them to find a solution to their problem that may seem funny yet is completely logical in a Lewis Carroll sort of way; sending them on the way in their "cross-country" adventures and on to new discoveries which add a surprise twist to the plot. The story is presented in a novel way which can only be described as a docucomedy as in docudrama with a comedic twist.
ellieperla
After a private viewing the Romanian movie "Usturoi" (Garlic) I just wanted everyone to see it. Generosity and hospitality are ingrained in the country's traditions, a place where a melting pot of nationalities have survived together for centuries. The makers of this gem captured the essence of the Romanian and Roma spirit, with lovely sarcasm, sharp images and rhythms, and a superb cast of almost entirely amateur actors. Good - as in good-hearted - comedies are rare, and the wit and charm of this movie has a truly global appeal. Like Gadjo Dilo before it, it exploits the boundless and unedited way of expression of the modern gypsy, to which a good dose of match-making-family-feud is added, reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the likes. "Usturoi" is for everyone who still believes in the human race. It will put a smile on your face.
