Codine

one of the films of my childhood. one of the most impressive for the scene of the terrible punishment of mother against his son. the atmosphere of old Brăila. the story of a not ordinary friendship. the not inspired dialogues. the sketch of an exotic universe. short, a film who could be blamed for many reasons. but each critic ignores a significant detail - Panait Istrati appertains to two different cultures. his origins are almost more Balcanic than Romanian. his work reflects the essence of memories, experiences, frustrations and perspectives of reality. and it is the answer to very different expectations from a not single category of public. so, this adaptation is the adaptation of Colpi. not so bad if you do not ignore the impossibility to adapt, in its profound significance, the novels of Istrati. real admirable for the effort to preserve the spirit of Codin. like a sketch not as a painting. but enough for give , after decades, precious memories to a viewer.

Henri Colpi, the same who made the masterpiece "Mona, l'Etoile sans nom", got in his filmography another masterpiece, even bigger: this "Codine". Both films, "Codine" and "Mona, l'Etoile sans nom", are screenings of Romanian writers, Panait Istrati and Mihail Sebastian. Exceptional films, having nothing communist, no bit of propaganda, although made in communist Romania of the 1960s. "Codine" is one of the best films ever made. In the main title role, a non-professional, non-actor, profession teacher, Alexandru Virgil Platon. A very difficult role for any other actor, this man has achieved something absolutely exceptional. We've met and we talked in front of the Italian church on Magheru Boulevard in Bucharest, many years ago, a modest and good-natured man. In the role of the child Adrian Zograffi, Razvan Petrescu is flawless. Françoise Brion in the role of Irène, and Nelly Borgeaud in the role of Zoitza Zograffi, are beautiful and emotional. All the other actors, both French and Romanian, are great. To mention Dorin Dron, an absolutely unique figure in Romanian cinema, an actor who deserves much more consistent roles, based on his talent. Mihai Mereuta, does his best performance, in the role of the one who has a cholera attack and dies. Also Mihai Fotino and Victor Moldovan, in their best roles in a film. This movie marked my childhood, I saw it when I was very young, not even 10 years old, and it obsessed me all my life and I always wanted to see it again. I only remembered a few images and only now I can understand it as only an adult can understand. I reviewed it now at 61 years old and, I repeat, I consider it one of the best films ever made. One last thing, writing this review, I found out that Nelly Borgeaud died in 2004, she was so beautiful and delicate, specially in "The Man Who Loved Women"(1977), directed by François Truffaut, with Charles Denner, a great great film.

Henri Colpi's career was very short ,but certainly off the beaten track : "UNE AUSSI LONGUE ABSENCE" and "HEUREUX QUI COMME ULYSSE " (Fernandel's last movie) are his most known works :the first is a strong psychological drama with a haunting music which is known all around the world ;the second is a fine graceful film .

"CODINE " has fallen into oblivion in Colpi's country ;both reviews he gets come from Romanian users ,which makes sense ,for it's a French-Romanian production ,filmed on location in beautiful Romanian landscapes ,using local actors ; some French thespians are included : Françoise Brion (Irène) ,Nelly Borgeaud (Adrien's mom) ,Maurice Sarfati (Alexis) and last but not least Germaine Kerjean many remembers as Gabin's mother in "VOICI lE TEMPS DES ASSASSINS "as Anastasie (she whipped Gabin's wife, here , I won't tell what she does, it's worse).

The screenplay could be trite melodrama : two brothers,the good and the bad, a woman comes between them and tragedy is around the corner.But Colpi transcends the code of the genre ;the story is less important than the atmosphere of a poor outskirt of Bucarest .The luxuriant landscapes sharply contrasts with the people's plight :not only they have to face poverty every day of their miserable life (Irene is a semi-whore ,who sells her body for a beautiful garment) ,but they are also decimated by a cholera epidemic : note how colpi's directing avoids spectacular scenes ,the virtuosity of his camera when he films the death of Alexis.

Codine is an ambiguous character : a Cain of sorts, for his mother hates him (in the Bible ,God accepted Abel's offering but turned His back on his doomed sibling),an ex-convict ,like Victor Hugo's Jean Valjean, he's good and evil at once ; he remains a brute but he becomes friends with young Adrien and he redeems himself by protecting his mother he probably secretly loves because she represents the woman he longs for;Irène sleeps with him when he gives her presents .

Definitely off the beaten track on the French scene then at the beck and call of the Nouvelle Vague , "Codine" should not be missed.Told in voice over by the young hero turned adult.