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Poppy Field

Play trailer 1:31 Poster for Poppy Field Released Apr 8, 2022 1h 22m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Planning to spend a romantic weekend with his long-distance boyfriend, Christi's tender reunion is cut short when he is called in to handle a crisis at work. Christi is a member of the Bucharest police force, and his unit is sent to quell a protest at a local movie theater, where a far-right group has interrupted the screening of a queer film. As tensions between the homophobic protesters and the audience mount, Christi, closeted to his fellow officers, begins to spiral out of control when he spots a former fling in the crowd. A violent outburst threatens to expose Christi's secret and forces him to confront the contradictions between his personal and professional life. Inspired by true events, POPPY FIELD "reveals aspects of the wider damage done by prejudice that are rarely seen onscreen" (Eye for Film) and is a "worthy entry into the Romanian New Wave" (Art House Street).
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Poppy Field

Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Screen International After a hesitant start, this adept first feature quickly gathers momentum, delivering a knotty portrait of a man who, like the culture in which he lives, is still wrestling with the very idea of homosexuality. Nov 24, 2020 Full Review Ayelet Dekel Midnight East Taut, passionate, suspenseful, and intense, Eugen Jebeleanu’s Poppy Field maintains an unrelenting close focus on Cristi, a man who lives in two worlds, yet does not fully belong to either one. Aug 23, 2022 Full Review Alan Zilberman Spectrum Culture Like other films in the Romanias cinematic new wave, it builds layers of subtext until their implications are staggering. Rated: 3/5 Apr 22, 2022 Full Review Steve Erickson Gay City News It holds out empathy for a violent, extremely flawed man rather than going for cheap sympathy. Apr 14, 2022 Full Review Bobby LePire Film Threat The story is important, the lead actor is stunning, and the direction is excellent. Rated: 7.5/10 Apr 12, 2022 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Poppy Field takes a very close look at basically a single incident, its narrow focus and minimalist feel leading to a sense of strong, even devastating character (and societal) insight. Apr 8, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Richard D Initially it takes concentration (and for me, some repeated viewing) to understand who the lovers are and the nature of their relationship. Oh right, so Hadi is French, Cristi is Romanian, they are multilingual, with English as their common language. What is clear is that they can't get enough of each other, kissing and nuzzling their faces into the other as they ride the apartment lift. The lengthy post coital scene is erotic, tender, turning to tension and argument and hurt. I'm not upset, says Hadi, clearly upset, and lies sulkily on his front. Christi pulls Hadi's arm from under him and holds his hand, reconnecting the flow of love and affection. The depth (and limits) of their knowledge and understanding of each other is also conveyed in Christi's silent observing of Hadi, including a lengthy scene of Christi's gaze through a half open door as Hadi prays. Christi's sister arrives. In the know, she has come for an unwelcome viewing . Hadi (he's muslim afterall) warms to the sister and the sense of family she represents. We warm to her. Oh how nice. She KNOWS. But subtly, as the scene unwinds, her sisterly inquisitiveness appears to be more nosiness, and a final derogatory outburst portrays a disappointing narrowness and ill-will. They, the lovers, are arguing again. Hadi is upset and critical of Christi's dispensing with his sister. Right, so for this to happen they have, already, a significant relationship going on. It is very well done, this building of the portrait of the lovers. Then Christi is at work, riding with his police officer colleagues through the city to settle the invasion of a LGBTQ film screening by Christian homophobes. Perhaps a little predictable, the scene portrays Christi's reaction and behaviour in response to threats of an outing. There is an incident, and there is more that just the threat of an outing - maybe his job is on the line. But wait. You tell me. What do the ensuing dialogues with his colleagues convey? What does the team make of a phone call Christi receives as he explains to someone unknown to them where the stuffed cabbage is in the refrigerator? And what effect will the evening's charged events have on the interaction between the lovers when Christi arrives home? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Poppy Field

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Cast & Crew

Poppy Field

Poppy Field: Official Clip - Punching a Protestor Poppy Field: Official Clip - Punching a Protestor 2:42 Poppy Field: Official Clip - Hiding in the Closet Poppy Field: Official Clip - Hiding in the Closet 2:45 Poppy Field: Official Clip - Gay Cop Poppy Field: Official Clip - Gay Cop 2:33 Poppy Field: Official Clip - Your "Gay Phase" Poppy Field: Official Clip - Your "Gay Phase" 2:44 Poppy Field: Official Clip - Cuddling in Bed Poppy Field: Official Clip - Cuddling in Bed 2:55 Poppy Field: Official Clip - Flirting In The Bathroom Poppy Field: Official Clip - Flirting In The Bathroom 3:00 Poppy Field: Official Clip - Gay Activists vs. Homophobic Protestors Poppy Field: Official Clip - Gay Activists vs. Homophobic Protestors 2:42 Poppy Field: Official Clip - Kissing In The Elevator Poppy Field: Official Clip - Kissing In The Elevator 1:19 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Planning to spend a romantic weekend with his long-distance boyfriend, Christi's tender reunion is cut short when he is called in to handle a crisis at work. Christi is a member of the Bucharest police force, and his unit is sent to quell a protest at a local movie theater, where a far-right group has interrupted the screening of a queer film. As tensions between the homophobic protesters and the audience mount, Christi, closeted to his fellow officers, begins to spiral out of control when he spots a former fling in the crowd. A violent outburst threatens to expose Christi's secret and forces him to confront the contradictions between his personal and professional life. Inspired by true events, POPPY FIELD "reveals aspects of the wider damage done by prejudice that are rarely seen onscreen" (Eye for Film) and is a "worthy entry into the Romanian New Wave" (Art House Street).
Director
Eugen Jebeleanu
Producer
Velvet Moraru
Screenwriter
Ioana Moraru
Distributor
Film Movement
Production Co
Zenith Media, Cutare Film, The Group , Motion Picture Management , Cinema City, Icon Productions, Centrul National al Cinematografiei (CNC), Publicis Groupe
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
Romanian
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 8, 2022, Limited
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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