12:08 East of Bucharest

The whole country watched live on television as angry crowds forced Romanian dictator Ceausescu to flee Bucharest by helicopter. In a quiet town east of the capital, sixteen years since this historic day, the owner of the local TV station invites two guests to share their moments of revolutionary glory. One is an old retiree and sometime Santa Claus, the other a history teacher who has just devoted his entire salary to his drinking debts. Together they will remember the day when they stormed their town hall chanting "down with Ceausescu!" But phone-in viewers dispute the claims of the heroes, who may have been boozing in the bar or making Christmas preparations rather than rebelling in the streets.

“The buoyant little comedy 12:08 EAST OF BUCHAREST puts its finger on the problem in the best tradition of East European humor, savvy but concrete, gentle but sharp as a knife.” (Deborah Young, Variety)

“Though it is modest, almost anecdotal, in scale, 12:08 EAST OF BUCHAREST is also characterized by a precise and sneaky formal wit.” (A.O. Scott, New York Times)

“Corneliu Porumboiu's picture would submerge you in alcoholic despair if it weren't so damn funny. (That seems to be the Romanian mode of expression.)” (Andrew O’Hehir, Salon)

“The most hilarious movie I've seen this year.” (V.A. Musetto, New York Post)

“A casually bleak and neatly structured ensemble comedy -- at once deadpan and bemused.” (J. Hoberman, Village Voice)

“A bleakly hilarious movie.” (John Anderson, Newsday)