An Evening at SEEFest Austin with 'Hello! How Are You?'

By Dillan Harris

Director Alexandru Maftei's 2010 film, Buna! Ce Faci? (Hello! How Are You?) screened recently as part of the Austin Film Society's Essential Cinema series "SEEFest, Films of Southeast Europe." SEEFest Los Angeles founder and director of programming Vera Mijojlic was on hand to share some thoughts about the movie.

AFS Director of Programming Chale Nafus gave a brief introduction to the film and guest curator before the microphone stopped working. A few awkward moments passed before the problem was solved. "I think God was telling me to shut the (bleep) up," Nafus explained.

Nafus' candidness was reflected in the film itself, which was refreshingly, awkwardly and sometimes comically honest. Mijojlic mentioned that the film is the first comedy to come out of Romania in the last 20 years, and it is not without a subtle sense of melancholy. The story of Gabriel and Gabriela’s passionless marriage and their curiosity for something more becomes comical when the two, independent of the each other, learn to use a computer and explore the anonymous confines of chat rooms. Only this anonymity hides the fact that they are actually chatting with one another.

A spark is ignited within both as they clumsily type along, their fingers hitting the keyboard like notes on a piano, falling for this mysterious "other" reciprocating their messages. They stay up all night many times, typing back and forth, completely captivated but not without guilt about this virtual affair. Their sex-crazed son Vladimir even notices and suspects his parents' infidelity, while his own endeavors of becoming a porn star and documenting his rise to fame and fortune with a recorder are my favorite scenes of the film. As Gabriel and Gabriela fall deeper and deeper in love with their virtual companions and toy with the idea of meeting up, the tension in their marriage becomes obvious with their fruitless attempts at being affectionate with one anther.

Vladimir’s recorded narration helps to explain how two people so in love online have lost touch with one another in the real world. The awkwardness of it all is truly touching, is portrayed as one that is rooted in a love that has been forgotten but not lost. The story’s thoughtfulness is complimented by the fluid transitions from one scene to the next, the simple and sweet piano riffs, and the composition of each scene to mirror the character’s emotions. It becomes a romantic view of life when our desire for more is overshadowed by the need for appreciation and nurturing of what we already have.

I left the theater thinking about how rare it has become to see a beautifully composed, thoughtful romantic comedy, one that leaves you feeling good. Though the film is from Romania, it has universal themes that make it a perfect addition to the cross-cultural programming of SEEFest Austin.

For more information about SEEFest, read Chale's interview (part one and part two) with Vera Mijojlic.

Dillan Harris has just completed an internship at Austin Film Society.