‘Catane’ Opens SEEfest In Los Angeles, Spinning Humorous “Fairytale” In Which Appearances Can Be Deceiving

In Ioana Mischie’s film Catane, twin girls weave their long red hair together into a single braid and squeeze themselves into one sweater to make it appear they are conjoined. Why would they do such a thing?

Well, it’s all part of a larger “conspiracy.” It seems the Romanian mountain village where they live has been pulling off a bit of a scheme. The handful of inhabitants all claim to live with physical or mental conditions of one kind or another – the better to enjoy government benefits.

Back in Bucharest, a red flag is raised among government officials. “All of the residents of Catane village claimed they have disabilities,” a functionary reports to his colleagues. Another responds, “What if it’s true?” Off they go to investigate.

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