Carol I

The latest movie directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu, "Carol I", is for sure one of the best documentaries made in Romanian cinematography. The film shows events in the last few months of King Carol I's life and the tension between him and his government in the context of the First World War. The plot unfolds in the summer of 1914, when King Carol I was 75 years old and was living in seclusion at Peles Castle, together with Queen Elisabeta. Nicolaescu stars in the lead role, that of Carol I, a part he played before, in another one of his movies, "For the country" (1977). As for whether the film is true to actual events, Nicolaescu underlined it is nonetheless fiction, even if it is well anchored in the events of the time: "Fiction is almost all the time, because we're all actors. I used a lot of documentary too. I used some of the time's documents and footage, the beginning of the First World War and I also used what I shot in 1977. I have used a lot of materials but the film is essentially fiction". I believe this film is a piece of history and you must definitely see it.

That's why people in 60-70 years old have to retire; loss of control and abilities. Once time Nicolaescu was a great director, actor, screenwriter, producer, driver, stuntman, cashier, operator, garbage man and so on; he's on serve and on receive in the same time. But now seems he don't understand that there are young people who needs to assert and , furthermore, they truly need those money that Romanian government subsidize for local productions. Instead of it, Nicolaescu fiddles away on such production that can't be related any way with modern cinematography. Pardon me if I'm wrong but such a "documentary" is not worthing to be listed even on History Channel, not to mention in picture palace: a script copy/paste from history book of the 7-th grade school and a tack of shots from movies directed by himself in his "years of glory" If only he would spent his own money on this misfire . Shame on this dotard and so to those who spent budgetary funds for such a rubbish

It's unbelievable... Sergiu Nicolaescu was, 35 years ago, one of the promising Romanian directors - but, since then, he involuated in an incredible way, a hallucinatory vertigo of self-loss...

"Carol I" is not a "movie". It's a pile of shots, incoherent, awkward, penible... It has no script, just a "scenes list" with no head or tail ("structure" would be a displaced term, in this context). It's signed by Emil Slotea - who was a pretty good second director in the old studios... but what does this have to do with screen writing...? Nothing - and so, we have a ridiculous "nothing" posing as a movie script! As for the so-called "directing"... O.M.F.G. (pardon my French). There is none! Master Serge simply says: "Shoot me this, shoot me that / Who's afraid of the Big Bad Bat...?" Painfully moronic frames, a mocking of characters, a cacophonous soundtrack (Mihai, WHAT the hell were you doing..???), a cine-club level photography... Not to mention the impossibly retarded editing (Nita, babe, why, why, WHY???) - a messy mix-up of scenes from older Serge's movies... As we say in Romanian... it's a tragically hilarious casserole, spinach, cabbage ("ghiveci", "spanac", varzä")...

Serge, please - enough is enough! Romanian history doesn't deserve this offense! Go home, my friend! GO HOME AND FORGET ABOUT SHOUTING "ACTION!"

not remarkable but not bad. parts from Pentru Patrie și Războiul de Independență, few god performances and Sergiu Nicolaescu in role of Carol as end of a circle. sure, many possibilities for do a real good film. but the large image is nice. it is not a manifesto, it is not unique. only an exercise, almost honest, about first Romanian king. and the meeting with Razvan Vasilescu as Ion Brătianu or Claudiu Istodor as Marghiloman, with the scenes of another Nicolaescu films - like in a time trip - has not disappointment result. good point - Crown Concil scene. its tension, dialogs and Carol as lion in winter are important ingredients of an important moment. but, after death of a director, his movies are free birds. only public has answers to questions. the rest remains silence.

for many Romanians, Sergiu Nicolaescu remains a popular director. not good, not bad, only maker of surrogates who supports the national pride, the American 1930style of confrontations between good cop and the bad guys, literary adaptations and political lessons. the desire to remain in top after the fall of Communist regime was not the most inspired choice. but "Carol I" is a special film . first because it represents the end of a circle. the second - because it gives a decent and honest portrait of the first Romanian king. as a puzzle of scenes from his early films about same theme. and, against the ordinary sins of his filmography, it is an useful film. not for be a history lesson but as seed for questions about the modern Romania making. and for understand the present . this is all. a king and his work. his wife, his war, his last choice, his collaborators. and, maybe more important, his deep solitude.