After finishing the synopsis for the six films in "Six Stories from the Outskirts of Bucharest", Cristi Puiu showed them to Răzvan Rădulescu, a writer and screenwriter who collaborated with Puiu on writing "Stuff and Dough" (2001) and Lucian Pintilie's "Niki and Flo" (2003). They started researching "The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu" by going to various doctors and hospitals, then completed the screenplay. Puiu and Rădulescu entered the screenplay in the 2004 Script Contest organised by the "CNC". However, the "CNC" refused financing for "The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu." Puiu appealed directly to Răzvan Theodorescu, the Minister of Culture, who approved it immediately, overruling the "CNC" decision.