A SURPRISING, GRIPPING AND SATISFYING FILM. A STARTINGLY GOOD DRAMA. The story is tautly, bravely acted. More important, the tale is so compelling that it seduces viewers as a fairy tale does a child.

— Richard Corliss, Time Magazine

Brilliant.

— J. Hoberman, The Village Voice

A searing film, shot something close to real time, in long, unbroken takes that wrap around you like a vice.

— Scott Foundas, LA Weekly

BEAUTIFULLY REALISTIC, FAULTLESSLY MADE. Underlined the emergence of Romanian cinema as a world force.

— Kenneth Turan, LA Times

#1 FILM OF THE YEAR! A GREAT FILM.

— A.O. Scott, The New York Times

MASTERFUL. MOVING AND GRIPPING THROUGHOUT.

— Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

A TRIUMPH OF AESTHETIC. A ferocious often brilliantly directed film. Marks the emergence of an important new talent in the Romanian writer and director Cristian Mungiu.

— Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

****! A MASTERWORK. AN ODYSSEY YOU WON'T SOON FORGET.

— Michael Phillips, The Chicago Tribune

*****! A MASTERPIECE. Director Cristian Mungiu creates scenes unlike any ever filmed.

— Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

****! What you see will floor you...grips you in a vice of suspense.

— Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

****! BRILLIANT.

— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times