Radu Jude’s “Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World” takes a surprising turn late in the film. The protagonist, Angela, an amusing and crude driver in Bucharest, shares a story about a road lined with memorials. The movie then cuts to a series of roadside memorials for four quiet minutes, transforming the tone into a somber reflection.

Angela, played by the captivating Ilinca Manolache, works as a production assistant on a workplace safety video project for a foreign company in Romania. Her tasks include interviewing injured workers for a cautionary tale. As the film shifts between black-and-white and color, Angela expresses her opinions, creates TikTok videos, and provides insight into contemporary Romania. She even crosses paths with German director Uwe Boll, known for boxing his critics.

While Jude’s films are generally well-received, “Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World” challenges the viewer’s patience in following Angela’s journey. The movie is rich with themes of history, capitalism, and representation, offering a rewarding experience despite its demanding nature.

The film begins early one morning with Angela’s raw, cursing energy. Throughout the day, she creates TikToks embodying her bald alter ego, Bobita, a crass figure who boasts about his association with Andrew Tate, the self-proclaimed “king of toxic masculinity.”