Sergiu Nicolaescu was one of the most popular Romanian film directors. His epic
Michael the Brave (1971) is still one of the most successful domestic films ever produced and even sold internationally, a rare achievement during communist times. A brilliant action director, Nicolaescu was especially well-known for his vast battle sequences featuring thousands of extras and real explosives instead of special effects. He is regarded as one of the most efficient directors of battle sequences in film history.