LIVE FROM THE INDUSTRY@TALLINN & BALTIC EVENT

What would you do if you hit the jackpot? And how far are you willing to go in order to make that happen? Which is more important: money or your dignity? Those are some of the central questions raised by this Romanian film.

Filmmaking duo Vasile Todinca and Vlad Popa take audiences on a journey of self-reflection, while dissecting relationships and greed. The very first frame draws viewers in. Your eyes focus on the never-ending traffic flow. Or they doggedly seek to spot the characters to whom the loud and disembodied voices belong.; This is a mesmerising experience. A couple of minutes later, Nelu and Ilinca appear. They are shop workers with familiar afflictions. They enjoy having lunch together and discussing just about anything that comes to mind: the lives of family members, their finances, what the future may hold, and so on.

The directors opt for a black-and-white cinematography because the monochromatic palette mirrors Romanian life. It’s listless and bleak. It is noise that steals the scene here: the incessant hustle and bustle, the chaotic flow of transportation vehicles, and the hubbub of urban dwellers carrying on with their lives as normal. The fast pace of cars and buses is combined with the witty conversations in order to create a standalone universe. Audiences keep wondering what happens next. Nothing if off limits. Would you dare to take a closer look? You might even hit the jackpot.

Jackpot shows in the PÖFF Shorts section of the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. This review was written as part of the Film Review Workshop conducted on November 10th, 2024.

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Madli Raig is a passionate and optimistic language teacher, specialised in English, French, and Estonian. She has a background in languages, social media management, recruitment, and interior design.