Amza, der Schrecken der Bojaren

theatrical, admirable work for its period, mixture of adventure story and romance using a page of modern Romanian history, it must be discover in the context of its origins. because it is expression of a cinema fashion and interesting exercise of Dinu Cocea to create a different image about past, not exactly heroic but credible, not result of the best technical tools but ambitious and profound honest. a film about revenge and duty, corruption and victory of good guys. but, more important, a splendid Amza Pellea as bad guy character and flavor of a deep Romanian way to exist. Romantic slices and fight scenes, first step of Marga Barbu in a role who defines her career, it is an useful film for discover efforts of an artistic team and a movie who has , after decades, force to convince and remember, for many of its viewers, the emotions of youth age.

If you don't mind the black and white image, the unequal quality of the sound, the strange camera work (important parts of the scenes were off the screen at times, which I found a bit confusing. I wonder if it was intentional or just bad cinematography?), and the loud annoying music during the fight scenes, then this is a quite enjoyable movie.

The acting is very good. A bit too theatrical and melodramatic for my taste, but again, these were all very famous Romanian theater actors, and I guess in those times (the 60s), that was the way they acted.

Amza Pellea is the bad guy for a change, and he is very convincing. I also liked Toma Caragiu in the role of the fake priest and the always hilarious Jean Constantin as the gypsy servant.

The plot is very good, with many twists and turns. All in all, an enjoyable movie, especially for Romanians who want to see their childhood movies and actors again or for people familiar with the Romanian history.

it is not very inspired to define it out of the period context. it is entertainment and this fact is the best angle to see it. it use romance and fights for a nice and almost credible story about justice and a romantic time. and, a real good point, it not propose heroes. only a charming use of history crumbs. the most important detail - it was made in a delicate political period and this fact does it bizarre. because the start of national historical epic is not prepared and Dinu Cocea does an admirable effort for use popular influences, the exercise from 1929 about the same subject, a great cast and a form of freedom who could be understand only in the political context of "60 years. technical is far to be brilliant. or decent. but it has so many virtues , it is the first from a not so bad series and propose a perspective about Romanian modern history who remains interesting today too.