California Dreamin’

2008, Cristian Nemescu, 155 minutes, Romanian with French and Chinese subtitles

In 1999, during the Kosovo War, a train carrying NATO equipment, escorted by American Marines with Captain Doug Jones in command, is held back in Căpâlnita, a Romanian village, by the station master, who blocks the train over a paperwork technicality. The villagers try to take advantage of the Americans’ unexpected presence. The mayor, for instance, organizes a celebration in their honor. At the same time, Sergeant David McLaren, falls in love with Monica, the crafty station master's daughter, who dreams of a better world.

Cristian Nemescu is a graduate of the Academy for Theater and Film in Bucharest. During his final year at the academy, he made a short film, Story from the Third Block Entrance, which was recognized at the NYU International Student Film Festival. It was also nominated for Best Short Film at the European Academy Awards. In 2006, Nemescu was killed in a car crash in Bucharest. His last movie, California Dreamin' (2007), was in post-production when the accident happened. It later received an Un Certain Regard Prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.