Set in 1989, Catalin Mitulescu’s The Way I Spent the End of the World is the story of Eva, a pert 17-year-old struggling with the usual trials of adolescence during the last days of Romania’s oppressive Communist regime. When Eva and her boyfriend accidentally break a statue of the dictator Ceausescu, she is sent to reform school and meets the rebellious Andrei. Together they hatch a plan to flee Romania by swimming across the Danube. Meanwhile Lalalilu, Eva’s seven-year-old brother who has a near-romantic devotion to his sister, is devastated at the thought of being without her. With two pint-sized companions, Lalalilu decides he will assassinate Ceausescu at a public ceremony so that Eva can stay
in Romania.

Mitulescu has produced a charming story that does its best to capture everyday life under trying conditions. However, the film’s ‘life goes on’ mentality means there’s a bit too much fluffing about to allow a really satisfying engagement with the main plot. Dorotheea Petre’s Eva is incredibly interesting, but Mitulescu isn’t fully committed to Eva’s story because there are too many interruptions by the adorable Lalalilu. The film’s beautiful cinematography and sterling performances are worthy of praise, but the movie is hampered by a ‘try to please everyone’ approach.

With backing from Martin Scorsese and Wim Wenders, The Way I Spent the End of the World is one of a spate of big budget ‘independent’ films that straddle the line between a challenging depiction of life under difficult circumstances and a straight-up feel good drama. Even though this aspect will perhaps strengthen its box office impact, it’s not innovative cinema. In short, The Way I Spent the End of the World is a nice film to see with your mum.