Alibaba

A grandmother, a mother and her little girl meet at an oriental restaurant to negotiate the girl's transfer to a better school. Because they didn't manage to get the floating act, the grandmother calls her friend from a prestigious school to find out what the transfer possibilities are. After the phone call, the two women have to choose between a disability act, through which the niece will have to simulate a disability, or an ethnicity act which, as a consequence, will lead to the expulsion of a Roma child. Despite the grotesque bargain, the women end their lunch with a Turkish dessert

Directed by Vlad Popa, Alibaba leans on a strong ensemble — Katia Pascariu, Mihaela Rădescu, Tania Filip — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2023.