SummaryRomeo Aldea (Adrian Titieni) is a seemingly honest doctor who regrets having settled in his native Romania, a country still teeming with corruption and back dealings. He channels his ambitions for a better life into his teenage daughter, Eliza (Maria Dragus), who’s just one exam away from securing a scholarship to a prestigious British university... Read More
Directed By:Cristian Mungiu
Written By:Cristian Mungiu
Graduation
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
84
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
100% Positive
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 13, 2017
100
The power of the film is cumulative, as the filmmaker spins a mesmerizing morality tale from the dross of daily life. In his skillful hands, the ordinary turns out to be anything but.
May 21, 2016
91
An excoriating, gripping, intricately plotted morality play, Mungiu’s film is less linear, more circular or spiral-shaped than his previous Cannes titles...but it is no less rigorous and possibly even more eviscerating and critical of Romanian society, because it offers its critique across such a broad canvas.
User score
Generally Favorable
80% Positive
35 Ratings
35 Ratings
16% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
5% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Sep 18, 2017
10
I just can't believe how Mungiu can address both ethical and legal aspect of society alive and do not give into watery melodramatics. his long-takes are of high mastery as always and like every other of his films the transportation from one place to the other is phenomenal. Best movie of 2016 along with Tonni Erdmaan
Aug 22, 2019
9
The majority of the movie is shot in unbroken long takes where the camera doesn't really move. It watches it's characters closely in all their flaws and glory.
Apr 27, 2017
88
In a first-rate cast, Titieni turns in a brilliant performance as a man who sacrifices long-held values to bow to the expediency of the moment.
Apr 27, 2017
80
The acting is outstanding; Mungiu’s straightforward dialogue and naturalistic shooting make for a movie that feels genuine, with no false steps.
May 24, 2016
80
The intergenerational debate underlying Graduation does throw novel wrinkles into the mix.
Sep 25, 2016
75
Cristian Mungiu's film is more than just a cry of despair toward the hopelessness of life in modern-day Romania.
Apr 26, 2017
67
Graduation may not occupy a place at the top of the class of contemporary Eastern European cinema like some of Mungiu’s other films, but it definitely sits above the curve.
Apr 24, 2017
8
This Romanian movie is set in modern post-Chaushesku's Romania.
It is a drama about many things but more than anything it is about choices that parents make for their children. Parents have more life experience that their children. But does that necessarily mean their long-term decisions for their grown-up kids are correct? This movie is as different from Hollywood production as possible. People speak soft, even in dramatic situations. Their emotions are subdued, and that makes it even more real. Excellent performances and casting. The film looks very authentic and truthful. In short, it is one of the best foreign movies I've seen this year.
May 16, 2017
7
A father's desperate attempt for his daughter. From the director of 'Beyond the Hills'. I have not seen many Romanian films, but a couple of his films, so I had an anticipation and it fulfilled that. If you are familiar with his works, you will love it too as well. It is an Oscar material like 'Toni Erdmann', but Romania had sent a different film. The film had achieved multiple things, including majorly highlighting the social issues and the education system, particularly from the parent's perspective. But it is basically about a father and his desperate attempts for his daughter for her better future. So it is something like 'Fathers & Daughter', but on one particular topic and the on- screen presentation was so realistic without the background score. Everything revolved around what the title suggested. A father who is professionally a doctor wants to provide a better education for his daughter. While facing a series of vandalism, his family gets a major shock after an unexpected terrible event. It was just before the daughter's annual exam. So it seems they're all disturbed by it, but the father is still not giving up on his daughter's exam, which requires a better score to get into the best university in the world. Apart from that, his other side of the personal and professional life takes some major turns. The film reveals all his struggles while breaking some moral laws. ❝Sometimes, in life, it's the result that counts.❞ The tale was told from the father's perspective and that character was seen almost in every frame. A good father knows what's best for his child, but sometimes crossing limits is what they do because of love and care. On the other hand, growing up kids, especially turning eighteen means that's when they actually begin to meet the real world. So basically they want to lose their parents' influence in their life as much as possible like when a baby bird starting to stretch its wings. Those stuffs were not prioritised here, but understandable from the developments we witness. From the social aspect, the corruption and educational demands, that's especially in the high scoring contest were the deriving plots from the main. The film could have been 10-15 minutes shorter if the father's professional side of the tale was not covered. It looked unnecessary, but fairly the part of the story when a slice of his life was what this film is about. I think not everybody sees the film's intention which is definitely not entertainment, nor inspiration, but kind of fact based on the parents. Yeah, I would have done almost the same as what the father has done in this. But due to some parallel developments in the main story, he had to face extra pressure from his own family. So unexpected way the narration takes the turn towards the final section. That's disappointing if you had supported the father from the very beginning. But a lesson he had learnt for his approach to deal the affair that he thought is slipping away from his master plan. Overall, a very good film, something you will learn how some people plan to deal a difficult stage of their life that's impacted by other surrounding developments. My only, slight disappointment was the crime part of the story which did not meet my expectation, but in most of the case that's how reality would be. So this is for particularly the drama film fans, because coping with the pace requires a little patience. 7/10
May 9, 2024
5
This movie lost me. I don't know but Idon't like how they act, how they present.
Production Company:
- Canal+
- Ciné+
- Eurimages
- France 3 Cinéma
- France Télévisions
- Groupama Romania
- Les Films du Fleuve
- Mobra Films
- Orange
- Romanian Film Board (C.N.C.)
- Why Not Productions
- Wild Bunch
Release Date:Apr 7, 2017
Duration:2 h 8 m
Rating:R
Tagline:A father will do anything to save his daughter's future.
Awards
Gopo Awards, Romania
• 9 Nominations
European Film Awards
• 4 Nominations
Chicago International Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations




























