This prop was used in the films Philanthropy, written and directed by Nae Caranfil, art director Mihnea Mihailescu (2002).
This bittersweet comedy satirizes Romanian society in its transition period, a society with reversed values, where the corrupt ones have the power.
Ovidiu, 35, a literature teacher in a Bucharest school, dreams of becoming a famous writer. He falls madly in love with Diana, a model, who extols the virtues of a brand of toothpaste in an advertisement. To please her, and to satisfy all her whims, he pretends he’s a young millionaire and spends the equivalent of several months of his meager teacher´s wages in one weekend.
Through the eyes of the character Ovidiu, a 35-year-old literature professor from Bucharest, we step into a sparkling comedy that explores the inverted values of a society subjugated by corruption. Ovidiu harbors a dream, that of becoming a renowned writer, but his path takes a turn when he passionately falls for Diana, a model who extols the virtues of a toothpaste brand in an advertisement. By showcasing this prop, we aim to bring to the forefront not only the object itself but also the story and atmosphere in which it was used. It is an invitation to explore the bittersweet universe of the film “Filantropica,” where toothpaste and the illusions of transition blend to create a memorable tale of love, ambition, and the absurdity of changing times. – Mirona Radu, curator