Hawaii (2017) User Reviews

A decent film not about the actual Hawaii

[scaradu · 8/10 · 21 November 2017]

I am a citizen of the country in which this film takes place and first of all I can attest to the production value being top notch. It captures that era perfectly. From the cars, buildings, clothing and even gestures and family dining manners everything is on par.

Be warned though as this is not an action movie but rather a lighthearted suspenseful romantic drama that doesn't necessarily insist on depicting the Romanian communist era, but does this nonetheless indirectly through dialog and setting, which is a good thing.

The dialog is good, the acting is almost great and I was surprised to see older people in the theater enjoying this alongside teenagers! So the critics calling this a superficial communist era film are wrong. This actually appealed to younger audiences, as the film as a whole felt more like a drama in that era, not a film insisting to depict that era.

I was amused and entertained by this film and I recommend you go watch it in the afternoon, not in the evening (that's for superhero movies and whatnot). Nothing heavy here but bonus points for putting some puzzle pieces together in my mind in regards to that time period. My rating is 7.5/10

Good movie that could've been better

[mirceaverdeanu · 6/10 · 23 December 2020]

The mobie revolves around the year 1988 in comunist Romania. The movie started great, the tension and anxiety felt strong and authentic, but then it started to get watered down. Yet the worst thing about this movie is the ending. It feels rushed and silly, not plausible, and the fact that he escapes but leaves everything behind him also feels undone. This is a good movie with too little attention to detail and some loss of ideas at the end.

It could have been much better

[sanda_moroianu · 6/10 · 4 January 2021]

I am always eager to give Romanian cinema a chance. It almost always falls short somehow. It is the case of this film as well. Having lived more than half my life under the communist régime, I think I am entitled to judging the period in question. On the one hand, the physical depiction of the period is over all accurate to the most minute details: the glass fish decoration, the plastic table cloth, the cold, the darkness, the dull clothes, the lack of basic foods, the cigarettes which could buy favours, the pirated music, the onmipresence of the Securitate, the general sensation of insecurity- they're all there. On the other hand, errors and discrepancies abund. They could have been easily avoided with the help of people of my age, who could have come forward with advice on the too striking inadequacies. The numerous Securitate officers display inaccurate hair cuts- all of them- culminating with the militia man who buys/ steals Florescu's dollars: there used to be a typical hair cut, military style, not that longish hair. Factual errors are also numerous: in the beginning the film is clearly situated in 1988, whereas on the radio one can hear a famous excerpt from Ceausescu's speech at the 14th party congress, from November '89. Florescu in his taxi is reading a Scanteia newspaper about the end of the 13th party congress. That one happened in 1984. Having a fake passport fabricated right in the heart of Bucharest? Having Romanian citizens visit the American embassy for a meeting with the ambassador himself? Only in American movies. But the most over the top sequence is the one where all the neighbours get involved happily into helping with the construction of the balloon. This could have never happened in a time when everybody was afraid of everybody else- which is otherwise well rendered throughout the film. People were too self absorbed, too frightened and too coward to let themselves be involved in such an escape plan. Again, this is for the American movies. The ARO used for the trip to the Danube seems to have been produced later, in the '90s. In the '80s, that road along the Danube would have been chock full of potholes, let alone the impeccable marking. Half the actors have decent performances, the other half are subpar. And the children: how come the children in Romanian movies are so bad at acting? Again, yet another failed attempt.

Loved it!

[patty_flori · 10/10 · 22 November 2017]

I must say this is the first time a Romanian movie makes me go through a roller-coaster of emotions like this! All the cinema would laugh or exclaim a mad "aghhh!" from time to time,depending on the action, feeling the struggle of the main character. I felt like we were all there, with him, working, falling in love, hoping, trying to create a better life. I think all the actors did a great job ! My personal favorite is the grandpa, but all the actors created believable characters! No bad jokes or boring moments. The action captures you and until the end,you wait anxiously to see what will happen next ?!? It is not predictable at all, and as someone in the audience said this is a "different" movie-the action takes place in communism but it is not about communism. For someone who was little memories about that time, it is a good way to realize how things where, and appreciate more what we are able to do nowadays. I believe this is a movie for all ages, and you will not regret watching it!!!

Definitely recommended!

Hawaii introduces its viewers into the 1988 Communist Romanian life and it does quite a nice job

[florian_florica · 6/10 · 29 November 2017]

Jesús del Cerro did an interesting piece of work here with this one. Dramatic and thrilling, but, unfortunately, few moments of originality.

After I watched it, I understood that all of this was made in order to make the ordinary viewer aware of the idea of 1988 Romania, a country where communism was in its final part of life (and glory) and when the entire Romanian people's lives were very difficult to live.

This is the main subject and thanks to the good work of the filming crew and because of the good performance by its actors, Hawaii is a must watch for all Romanian film enthusiasts and also, if you want to live in the 1988 Communist Romanian Bucharest for 216 minutes.

I warmly recommend this film, but they had a lot more to do and they had the potential, this is why I have rated it with a 6.

Stupid, implausible screenplay, half-baked impression

[Mad_Max_1979 · 22 December 2020]

There are some flaws in the script, which give the impression of something made by a person that did not live during those years and/or did not get accurate and relevant information. It could have been a much better mobile - it has good lead actors, both the (anti) hero and the villain; their conflict was underdeveloped, despite a good premise. The main actress was dissapointing - her acting was wooden and bidimensional, without depth. Her looks and overall image - an insult to the beauty of the young Romanian women during those years! From an interesting and (period correct) start, with a street-smart, small hustler cab driver who falls for an (unattractive) swimmer with a dark secret, the movie takes a nose dive, ending with not one, but four implausible scenes, defying the social norms, the work laws, the natural laws, and the border laws. Too bad for the period-accurate sets (excepting the yellow ARO truck!)! I felt a little betrayed - hoping for a good movie, due to the actors and the director, but I've got another piece of (poorly done) anti-communist manifest.

Decent but I wouldn't watch it again.

[andreeaandramaria · 7/10 · 1 April 2019]

In this review I'm not talking about the true facts of the movie, but about the artistic value of it. All in all it was filled with cliches, it brings nothing innovative, it can be difficult to watch at times, due to the fact that we can clearly see the balcanic influence.The shots are sometimes long and boring, the sexual scene was too much, in my point of view, and had nothing to do with the context. The official dinner/lunch is a scene so overused I actually engaged into scrolling Facebook. The actors stepped out of character sometimes and other times exaggerated. I would rate this at a 7,5.

A mediocre movie with a bad ending

[pwLiquid · 4/10 · 18 November 2017]

Hawaii tries to reproduce the life in the awful days of the Romanian communist regime. It achieves that only partially, not having enough strength to imbue the scenes with the authentic feeling of anxiety that defined the era. Some of the actors do a decent job - but nothing outstanding, while others seem artificial. The story floated, barely, until the final chapter unfolded and took everything down with its silly idea and sloppy execution. The movie seemed rushed and bland, despite tapping into a rich subject.

Feeling fear in the air?

[sarnela · 1/10 · 8 July 2018]

I'm a 40 years old from neighboring Bulgaria and remember quite well what was back then in 1988. But have no intention on arguing about the truthfulness of the movie.

I was curious to see the development and yes - the end was indeed a disappointment with its unreality. But more intriguing was to ascertain something that I notice the last few years - a fear that seemingly shakes certain circles. Fear originating from the growing desire and struggle of more and more people and groups for social equality and rights. Once again in history.

As these movements go stronger the propaganda machine is breaking up to spread the fear from the communist ghost again. As it was during the First and Second Red Scare, through Reagan's and Thatcher's ruling... and apparently will be every time in future until critical mass of people takes out the air from these circles by not playing by their rules.

P.S. Pity for the money, spent on this creation.