Otto the Barbarian: Patriarchy, Feminism, and Romanian New Wave Cinema

Abstract

The film Otto the Barbarian, on the surface, tells the coming-of-age story of a teenager living in Romania coping with the suicide of a friend. This film, however, also uses character perspective to subversively redress gender relations in post Communist Romania. Themes of self-harm, silence, display, and age are woven into the film to subtly challenge traditional gender roles. Director Ruxandra Ghițescu uses a cinematic style similar to many Romanian New Wave films to focus on a handful of characters. These characters tell a story of youth and communication but also an underlying story of status.