Puiu, while presenting his new film at the Transylvania International Film Festival this summer, thinks so too. Which is why, in his introduction to the movie, he said it was “inhuman” to watch his film with a mask on, and launched into a speech stating that, while the virus is real, the “tone of the authorities is unacceptable.” The speech, below, was reported by Romania Journal.

“Malmkrog” made its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, and played in Belgrade and France where, according to Puiu, it played “in cinema theaters with no social distancing and no face masks.” Next, “Malmkrog” will play in the Main Slate at the New York Film Festival. I find it absolutely amazing that people are disciplined and careful about all details in Cluj and I absolutely think that any abuse must be fined. And if you don’t do it by voting this time, nobody will do it. And I know people are scared and I respect the social distancing and I wear masks in any enclosed space. But if tomorrow you’ll be asked to walk with your hands, you’ll do it. I am very sorry, and I know you do not all agree with me and you are afraid of the pandemic. You should be afraid of some other, more serious things instead.

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