Metronom

Appearances can deceive, and Romanian director Alexandru Belc’s excellent first film is a fine example of the bait-and-switch. It starts out with Ana, a somewhat self-absorbed 1970s Bucharest schoolgirl, going through very relatable pangs of teenage romantic disappointment when her boyfriend announces he and his family are soon to leave the country. But quickly, and as relentlessly as the timekeeping device of the title, METRONOM matures into a much broader commentary on the rise of authoritarianism. In elegant, rich, warm-toned cinematography, the movie looks with new eyes on the clever cruelty of a totalitarian regime as it invades the private sphere, and turns a younger generation naturally inclined to rebellion toward tacit complicity. (Belfast Film Festival)