I agree strongly with the above reviews. This is a phenomenal film touching on the echoes of history, art vs. state, imagination vs. dictatorship; all within 29 minutes.
The story opens with Ovid exiled under what is now called Constanta, Romania; no longer an oppressive Roman state, but operating under the communist regime of Ceausescu in the 1980s. We learn Ovid was exiled by the Augustus Caesar and lived here, wretched and unknown, pining, until his death, to return to Rome, where he had once been its most famous poet. His mentoring of the young student has all the sweet irony of the iconic historical figure meeting the dismayed protagonist, all with a nostalgic view of what must have been a very difficult period to live through. One is reminded of Midnight in Paris, Amacord and Mean Streets all rolled up into a Balkan surprise.
We are immersed in the character's dilemma: history echoing, exile, entrapment in a Byzantine system ruled by Ceausescu's dreaded secret police, while there is the incredibly obsessive mirage of the West and the need for ingenuity in order to succeed in outwitting the brutal Romanian Government.
I would like to point out the wonderful characters that are generated and acted by first-class portrayals. The young protagonist K is played superbly displaying all the angst and drama of a young man trying to negotiate his way to manhood. Ovid, is utterly believable - played straight with no irony. One feels that the classic poet has indeed been conjured out of the past. I would love to hang with the Pig Brothers just for enough time to gain a lifetime of hilarious anecdotes. Lastly, the young women are played with true coquettish and dramatic intentions by wonderful actresses.
My only complaint is I wish it was longer. There is so much potential here. There is a subtle use of camera framing and movement that fulfills all the dramatic goals while never seeming contrived or superficial.
Bravo, Well done!!!
