Cinematographer Tudor Vladimir Panduru detailed his rigorous approach to long-take filmmaking during a masterclass at the Jakarta World Cinema festival this week. The session, moderated by director Benh Zeitlin, highlighted Panduru’s technical precision in films like Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord and R.M.N., revealing how he manages complex visual arcs without traditional editing.
Essential Insights from the Jakarta Masterclass
- Panduru utilizes “plan-séquence” techniques, where entire scenes are captured in a single, uninterrupted shot, necessitating up to 40 takes to achieve the required performance.
- The cinematographer manages complex depth-of-field challenges, such as keeping over 100 people in focus simultaneously, by using focus pulling as a substitute for traditional editing and reframing.
- Collaborations are rooted in shared social values, with Panduru emphasizing that he avoids action-genre tropes in favor of projects exploring social drama and human truth.
The masterclass, held as the fifth edition of the Jakarta World Cinema festival continues through November 7, offered a rare technical window into Romanian cinema’s aesthetic. According to Variety, Panduru’s career trajectory was traced from his early training under Oleg Mutu to his breakout international success with Mungiu’s Graduation. Benh Zeitlin, the filmmaker behind Beasts of the Southern Wild, moderated the event, noting that he sought out Panduru for his unique ability to enhance a director’s vision beyond their initial imagination.
The conversation pivoted to the logistical hurdles of Mungiu’s “plan-séquence” style. Panduru explained that because the camera remains low-profile to avoid directing the audience’s gaze, the pressure falls entirely on the actors and the technical team to maintain a state of “synchronicity.” When shooting R.M.N., the production team faced the daunting task of capturing a 20-minute scene involving over 100 people. Panduru revealed that the daytime town hall scene was actually filmed at night, relying on precise focus pulling to reframe the action without moving the camera.
The aesthetic shift between Mungiu’s gritty social dramas and other projects like Hasan Hadi’s The President’s Cake provided a study in versatility. While Mungiu’s work demands a disciplined, observational lens, The President’s Cake allowed Panduru to utilize running jib arms and wheels to capture a more fairytale-like visual language. As reported by Variety, Fjord—which opened the Jakarta festival—was Panduru’s third collaboration with Mungiu, following Graduation and R.M.N., and the first time the duo has filmed outside Romania using English and Norwegian.
| Project | Director | Key Technical Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation | Cristian Mungiu | Low-profile plan-séquence long takes |
| R.M.N. | Cristian Mungiu | Night-for-day lighting and complex focus pulling |
| The President’s Cake | Hasan Hadi | Dynamic movement with jib arms and wheels |
| Fjord | Cristian Mungiu | Magic hour lighting and synchronized actor movement |
While Mungiu and Panduru shoot plan-séquence with no editing or cuts, Panduru’s work on long takes showcases their distinct approach to filmmaking. Romania’s ambassador to Indonesia, Dan Adrian Bălănescu, noted at the festival that Fjord—the country’s 2027 Oscar submission—has sparked debate regarding its critique of Western society and conservative values. Mungiu himself has publicly dismissed the notion that filmmaking must align with specific progressive agendas to be considered “brave,” positioning his work instead as a pursuit of social truth.
Cristian Mungiu’s Cinematographer Tudor Vladimir Panduru Breaks Down Long Takes on 'Fjord,' 'R. M. N.' at Jakarta World Cinema Masterclass https://t.co/bN56gbUJ9X
The session concluded with a look at the technical execution of a climactic scene in Fjord, where the camera follows actor Renate Reinsve from a search on land into the sea. Panduru, who physically jumped into the freezing water to track the shot, emphasized that the difficulty lay in maintaining the emotional arc of the character while coordinating with grips both in and out of the water. The festival, which features 207 titles from 69 countries, continues its run at CGV Grand Indonesia, with streaming options available via KlikFilm.
As the festival heads toward its November 7 closing, the film's success as Romania’s submission for the international feature Oscar at the 99th Academy Awards is still uncertain. Share your thoughts on whether the “long take” is the ultimate test of cinematic craft in the comments below.
