Cristi Puiu is a radical director of extremes: each of his films is an exercise in aesthetics, immersing us into the depths of time and space. In his previous film, Sieranevada, he used the concept of combining slow cinema with in-shot montage and the principle of theatrical conversation. In Malmkrog he continues in a similar way by working with a text by the philosopher Vladimir Solovyov. The story takes place during a visit to an aristocratic mansion. It presents a global journey through history and a thought construct about the possibilities of existence. Stylistically, it stands out for its impeccable mise-en-scene and precise expression of the historical period in which it is set. It is both a fascinating visual fresco and a captivating intellectual exercise that delivers an ironic critique of the current world.

The film won the Best Director Award in the Encounters section at the Berlinale 2020.