Stefan Luchian

Ion Caramitru, who later became the Minister of Culture in Romania, plays the lead role of the painter, Stefan Luchian.

Stefan Luchian lives at the beginning of the 20th century and suffers from a disease that will eventually paralyze him. He is unable to pursue love and focuses all his strength, his power on painting. He also ignores the vile and corrupt society that surrounds him.

Personally I like to call this movie "Impressions from Luchian's Life". The movie doesn't bring up a documentary approach, and we can see some modern approaches (for 1981) to modern cinematography. Time passes quickly, seasons go by in a flash and sometimes suddenly stops at key, symbolistic moments. The painter sees life, death, poverty, revolution and brings life to his paintings.

A delicate film about art and fight. About the price of sacrifice and about the value of truth. About forms of love and signs of passing. It is a beautiful movie but, in same time, a strange pledge for essence of existence in a propaganda's era. Portrait of a great Romanian painter, it is description of a world with Chekhov's favor, with Mihalkov sparkles.

The Caramitru acting is impressive for a ineffable delicacy, for the description of character's nooks, for the poetry of gestures, words and lights, for delicate colors and exploration of a ordinary life. A Luchian as new Crist, the creator like self-master, the world - mediocre scene of illusions and lies. And the moment like golden miniature.

A splendid creation is the construction of George Constantin role. Ironic, cruel, childish, harsh, it is result of a spectacular artist, of a solid talent and sensitive spirit.

The essence of film is the meeting between Luchian and Enescu. Not the mixture of arts or the homage for a genius are purpose but exploration of a soul, beyond definition, arguments or images. Picture of a final trip after the contemplation of bizarre universe. Last testimony about a vision and believe.

crumbs of life. memories, impressions, friends, the escape from circles of every day life. love. and the delicacy of Nicolae Mărgineanu to translate in images an existence who represents joy to ignore the pain. not a biography, only a sort of puzzle. who suggest more than ignore. who gives the chance to Ion Caramitru to do a splendid role. who remains a isle in the Romanian Comunist cinematography. because it escapes from propaganda web, because it is not an adapted biography but pledge for values. and because the scenes are build by a touching cinematography. a film of seasons more than presentation of life. one of refreshing films. who gives clear drawings of the force of art.