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Eu, tu si Ovidiu (1978)
How things were back then
I resent the way Ersbel Oraph spitefully threw here a few words about "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu" as being the sole product of Communist propaganda. Many feature films (including historical ones) were created at that time accepting the ideological pattern. We, Romanians lived in a country where the media only spoke of what it was told to speak. One might say actors had a choice: to refuse the communist ideology and propaganda. Yes, they could have! Just as the Russians could have refused to create USSR at the beginning of the 20th century, and the Germans could have told Hitler they don't agree with his policy of conquest! What does an actor do in a Communist country? What does a walking bird do? Can one say no to one's calling? I will never be judgmental when it comes to acting in Communist times. Great actors, like those in this movie, have delivered masterpieces. The New Year's Eve TV programs have never been equaled since Ceauşescu's demise. "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu" is an easy going comedy. It is a time document. It's how it was! I don't mean that factory managers were young, glittering and concerned about the Communist goals! But what I do mean is that the Romanian seaside was a great place to go, it was affordable and most Romanians had no problem getting cheap "Union tickets" for seaside hotels, room and board. The movie does stigmatize the social morals of the time. For instance, many had gone along with the idea that the Party was "all-knowing" and "all-powerful" and tried to profit themselves by using the "wooden language" (in Romania we referred to the "wooden language" as being the "ideologically correct" kind of talk that the Communist activists wanted to hear from you - which would clear you from suspicions that you could be an "enemy of the state"). "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu" should be viewed accepting the fact that the actors wanted to enjoy themselves while creating a movie that would brighten the day of those who watched it. It's not true that the acting is mediocre. Florin Piersic, Dem Rădulescu, Sebastian Papaiani, Jean Constantin and other great actors acted splendidly, like they always did. I repeat, it's a light comedy and it should be watched as such. I have no idea how non-Romanians would see it, but I will always watch it with great pleasure. I have recently seen Stalin's favorite Russian movie: Volga-Volga. I entered the atmosphere of those times and was thrilled to understand a very simple truth: As an actor, you make do with what you have. I left aside the ideological considerations and heartily laughed at the playful way they acted. A movie like Volga-Volga is a time capsule. So is "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu". An artistic representation of a dream. For Communism was a dream. It started like a beautiful one and it ended a nightmare. Let's face it, human nature is terrible. But do we have to stay gloomy and harshly judge art from the standpoint of Puritanism? I conclude with a quote from Matthew 6:22, 23: If "thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.""
Si caii sunt verzi pe pereti (2012)
In the Eye of the... Producer
Yes, it's all in the eye of the... producer. I could only see about 20 minutes of this movie, it was all such a déjà-vu. And I got back later to see the rest. Great acting, but, as always, the bitter taste of foul language (which almost all post-communism Romanian screenplay writers use to "spice-up" the bitter comedy they produce). As a Romanian and also as a "consumer" of movies, I am fed up with this approach to life "shots". In a quarter of a century I have not seen one Romanian movie where Romanians are portrayed as wise and refusing to be otherwise than greedy, violent, lascivious and lacking moral strength. The message usually is that you can't win. "Mere roşii" (Red Apples), a Romanian movie made back in the dictator Ceauşescu's days (1976), may be considered a propaganda movie, but it has nothing of the kind; it's just a story (of a real fact) that deals with an inspiring and ethical subject: remaining true to your calling and finding ways to keep your uprightness in a degrading work environment. "Chasing Rainbows" is one of many Romanian productions that has no interest for characters that would build and enlighten the audience. Just one more production that has the audacity to claim that it portrays real-life, "just as it is". Well, I am happy to inform the director and screenplay writer Dan Chişu (pronounced Keeshoo) that Romanians that lead a healthy, wise and productive life DO exist and should be made main characters in future movies. The great acting in "Chasing Rainbows" was marred by profanity, foul language and a bleak, disheartening atmosphere. Don't get me wrong: If there WERE movies different than this I'd just choose to see those and forget about pictures like this. I often review dramas on my own site and found many that are beautiful works of art. This movie here is not. It's just a freak show, a circus, a curiosity on the side of the road. Gambling, lottery, drugs, Internet frauds, misguided youth - these are hardly my favorite subjects. Especially when they are described almost in the light that they are desirable for even "normal" people. Sorry, but the excuse that the movie portrays rapacity, recklessness, indifference, an uncanny drive to get rich is no longer acceptable for someone who is waiting (for 25 years) from Romanian producers to show that Romania and Romanians have also good parts. In my eyes those who only try to impress the film-world outside Romania with "spicy" themes, are just prostitutes. I will be interested in Dan Chisu's work when he has cared less for applause and more for his audience. In my opinion, a movie is true art when you can watch it with your kids and not feel embarrassed - presuming that you still know what is to be considered shameful.