This is a movie that deserves more than 6 lines of comment after having seen it! ... or, better said, not only six which are so void of content and vague. So, here I am, doing this film a little justice:
The plot... In the pre-communist era, the socialist movement is closely monitored by the Romanian police, who would stop at nothing to acquire the information leading to the silencing of these outlaws. At a time like this, Radu, a sort of "James Bond" figure, but without the glamour and in more of a "1984" tone, falls in love with the dazzling Anca, also a member of the movement. He indulges in this affair against the good advice of the underground and against his own better judgment, thus endangering both their lives.
It's a lovely dramatic story which follows two youngsters whose beliefs in the revolution are shaken by the increasing love they have for one another. Nonetheless, they accomplish their duties.
One could argue that this film contains a lot of pro-communist allusions, which is absolutely true and, in the context, absolutely natural. The two main characters are turned into real martyrs of the socialist struggle (not to mention that Radu - Dan Nutu - looks very much like Nicolae Ceausescu in his young socialist revolution days... or at least, the way he was depicted by the artists of the time) Regardless, they couldn't have cast a better actor: Dan Nutu's performance is genuine, true and lacks the theatrical accent which cripples most Romanian productions.
Pintilie is a master in his league: he builds the suspense admirably by cross-cutting between Radu's vivid, turmoiling and painful memories of what had happened to Anca on that dreadful Sunday at 6 am and the events that led to it. The film is well balanced and the story flows naturally; it's simply well written.
There are, of course, also down sides (that's why I couldn't give it a full 10), like the quality of film used, which is bellow 1965 world-wide standards and makes it fairly difficult to watch at times. Nonetheless, with due effort, seeing this film is definitely time well spent. There's also a lack of attention to details like coupling sounds from one scene to another, the absence of sounds which are expected (like the dropping of some wooden items on a table, or steps on pavement etc), faulty synchronization between dialogs on film and those added in post production and other little details of the likes. (but, then again, films which are internationally renowned as being landmark masterpieces have that problem too... see Visconti's Il Gattopardo)... So, I'll give Pintilie full merit for a well done movie!!!
It's definitely a notable Romanian film from the Communist era. Sure, the story flatters the political system of those days, but that shouldn't be regarded as a negative, but rather a good thing: it also entraps the social context of the year 1965 and what Romanian cinematographers had to do to keep on doing film. On an international and universal scale of values, this film should be regarded as a great movie about love, the power of conviction and sacrifice...
The plot... In the pre-communist era, the socialist movement is closely monitored by the Romanian police, who would stop at nothing to acquire the information leading to the silencing of these outlaws. At a time like this, Radu, a sort of "James Bond" figure, but without the glamour and in more of a "1984" tone, falls in love with the dazzling Anca, also a member of the movement. He indulges in this affair against the good advice of the underground and against his own better judgment, thus endangering both their lives.
It's a lovely dramatic story which follows two youngsters whose beliefs in the revolution are shaken by the increasing love they have for one another. Nonetheless, they accomplish their duties.
One could argue that this film contains a lot of pro-communist allusions, which is absolutely true and, in the context, absolutely natural. The two main characters are turned into real martyrs of the socialist struggle (not to mention that Radu - Dan Nutu - looks very much like Nicolae Ceausescu in his young socialist revolution days... or at least, the way he was depicted by the artists of the time) Regardless, they couldn't have cast a better actor: Dan Nutu's performance is genuine, true and lacks the theatrical accent which cripples most Romanian productions.
Pintilie is a master in his league: he builds the suspense admirably by cross-cutting between Radu's vivid, turmoiling and painful memories of what had happened to Anca on that dreadful Sunday at 6 am and the events that led to it. The film is well balanced and the story flows naturally; it's simply well written.
There are, of course, also down sides (that's why I couldn't give it a full 10), like the quality of film used, which is bellow 1965 world-wide standards and makes it fairly difficult to watch at times. Nonetheless, with due effort, seeing this film is definitely time well spent. There's also a lack of attention to details like coupling sounds from one scene to another, the absence of sounds which are expected (like the dropping of some wooden items on a table, or steps on pavement etc), faulty synchronization between dialogs on film and those added in post production and other little details of the likes. (but, then again, films which are internationally renowned as being landmark masterpieces have that problem too... see Visconti's Il Gattopardo)... So, I'll give Pintilie full merit for a well done movie!!!
It's definitely a notable Romanian film from the Communist era. Sure, the story flatters the political system of those days, but that shouldn't be regarded as a negative, but rather a good thing: it also entraps the social context of the year 1965 and what Romanian cinematographers had to do to keep on doing film. On an international and universal scale of values, this film should be regarded as a great movie about love, the power of conviction and sacrifice...