Domestic

The bond between humans and animals and how the latter can bridge the gap between the former is so warmly explored by Adrian Sitaru, who is one of my favorite Romanian directors. But this is a pretty sad movie since it starts with the death of a child and explores the aftermath.

"Domestic" is Romanian hyper-realism in all its glory, and so not an easy watch. There is no common MacGuffin; You often have three people talking over each other, to each their own concerns, barely hearing one another. Compare that with the near-silence of the animal Sitaru has sharing the frame with them, be it dog, cat, rabbit or bird. Silently awaiting its fate, to be decided on a human whim. Mid-hierarchy are the children; somewhat voiceful, but never really making the rules.