In a small Romanian village somewhere in Transylvania, a commission arrives to investigate why all its residents receive disability benefits. Upon arrival, the team of inspectors finds that everything seems to check out: the villagers are unusually active and hardworking and movingly determined to make do with what little they have. Touched by the way they cope with difficult circumstances, the inspectors even contact the presidential office to request increased support for the village. But when they return to collect missing documents, the reality turns out to be entirely different. This, however, is not a story about fraud, but about witty ingenuity. Under pressure, the villagers unite and come up with a humorous response to the absurdity of a dysfunctional system.

Debut director Joanna Mischie drew inspiration for this black comedy from both a real-life case and from her childhood experiences in a Romanian village. “Catane is a deeply Balkan story with a Balkan spirit, shot in the style of Wes Anderson,” wrote a reviewer for Variety.

Cast: Costel Cascaval, Iulia Lumanare, Cristian Bota, Mihai Malaimare, Corneliu Ulici, Nelu Serghei, Mihai Dinvale

Sales: Intramovies