in German," traum", last name of hero, meanings dream. this is one of keys to understand this movie. not very inspired. full of good intentions, sketch of many possibilities,skin of a seductive script it is not a bad film. but, unfortunately, it remains almost a generous promise. the basic idea is interesting. an American writer in search of his origins. but the image of Bukowina, like gray, lost soul land ,is not charming/ correct for a Romanian, even if it is a way to describe Romania by new directors wave . in this case, the sacrifice for noble purpose is fundamental sin of director. because it is part of ordinary cliché. because the events are to many and almost boring. because, after its end, real good point is Marcel Iureș in a strange role. because the message, interesting, smart, is prisoner of another exercise to present a piece from Dracula land. the truth is only convention. but is it right ? because only the South of Bukowina is part of Romania. because this magnificent regions is not collection of ruins. because the story is not so powerful to support every innovation. and the time of rackets / Ukrainian mafia is slice of past. and, in final, because it is a Romanian director work. so, a nice movie. only as intention. or good ingredients for altered salad of a trip, ordinaries cliché, few drops of fantastic in form of dream/ pink fairy tale end, Siret as fragment of Balkan universe, the Jewish line, promising, as smoke ball, and a love story like contortion show.
Review of The Phantom Father
