An 18-year-old about to be released from a juvenile detention center is pushed over the limit when his deadbeat mom reappears in Florin Serban's strong debut, "If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle." Though it loses its way in the final 20 minutes, the drama largely reps a lean, subtle take on the young-man-in-prison genre, boasting an especially powerful visiting-room sequence and impressive thesping skills from the largely nonpro cast. "Whistle" is the kind of solid, engrossing, small-scale pic fest auds should appreciate, offering possibilities for a limited arthouse run.
Silviu (George Pistereanu) is getting out of juvenile detention after four years inside for unspecified infractions. Since he's not top man on the totem pole, he's subject to the power-brokering of more hardened inmates. Younger brother Marius (Marian Bratu) makes an unexpected visit, announcing that their mom (Clara Voda) has returned from Italy and wants to take him back with her before Silviu gets out; big brother is not pleased.
With release imminent, Silviu participates in a program to reintegrate into society, taking a shine to young trainee social worker Ana (Ada Condeescu). While it's a small scene, their interaction and his flirtatiousness offer a promising sense for his future -- one that's squashed when his mother arrives with Marius. In an expertly built-up showdown, Silviu lays bare her lousy maternal behavior, threatening violence should she dare take Marius. With just five days to go before release, he tries to get the warden (Mihai Constantin) to agree to a day pass, but when it's refused, Silviu explodes.
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