L'attore e i selvaggi

Almost 10 years Romania have been under the dark and dreadful political influence of the Hitler's policy The movie show in the genial interpretation of the great Toma Caragiu how difficult was for the theater world to try to defend the freedom in their scenic life... In the final part of the movie, Toma Caragiu make an outstanding imitation of the Hitler's paranoid behavior, Marin Moraru is perfect playing the dumb steward and all the actors play with a strange enthusiasm that because in the real life the mind and soul of the regular citizen in Romania was poisoned by the dreadfully tyranny of the Ceasusescu's system.The difference was not to much between the two historical periods... only a couple of decades...

like many Romanian films from the same period, it is saved by actors. the script gives only a Manichean conflict between an actor at the end of his career and the organization of Iron Guard organization. it is not surprising - under the Communist regime the film must be tool of propaganda. the good point - the script who gives to Toma Caragiu possibilities to create a seductive character. the bad thing is the political message who covers under fascist menace different parts , using sketches of characters. the final monologue reminds the speech from the Dictator. and it is not surprising because the message is the same. its bizarre status is result of the context. in a dictatorship, to pledge for the freedom of speech is pure non sense. but the sinner confessing his sin could be a virtue in this case. short, with indulgence, not ignoring the political context , a decent film. few drops of humor, interesting performances, tension and the brilliant Toma Caragiu.

This film is an opportunity to watch great Romanian actors at work, under the direction of Manole Marcus, one of the first Romanian film makers that attended Film School (the first generation at the Academy of Theatre and Film in Bucharest). Toma Caragiu is portraying Constantin Tanase, a great Romanian comedian from the '30s. The film looks like a musical-comedy, but in fact is tragic. The historical background is carefully designed and crafted, starting with the costumes and ending with the grim atmosphere, suggested mainly through an attentive manipulation of light and shadows. Marcus took a pretty long shot with the subject, because Tanase was an "old-time" entertainer, from the the so-called "exploitation" period (that's how the communists called the years of monarchy in Romania). A careful watcher can observe the sympathy for the culture and civilization of that troubled time. Watch for Mircea Diaconu and Mircea Albulescu in two special appearances.

A imperfect beautiful film.

Toma Caragiu is magnificent in a gorgeous role. The interbelic atmosphere is recreated with talent and the acting of Marin Moraru, Mircea Albulescu or Mircea Diaconu is precise and subtle.

But, it is an important problem: the transformation of film in a political instrument. A very uncomfortable manicheism transforms a decent movie in a caricature and only the art of Caragiu may evit the metamorphosis in a Communist moral lesson.

The movement of right-extreme is a fundamental character in modern Romanian history and its gestures (murder of five Prime-Ministers), ideas ( a irrational ideology in which the influences of "Mein Kapf" was mixed with East Christianism dogmas), relations with Nazi Germany are parts of reality.

But the message of film is more profound. And his consignee is every anti-democratic regime.

This film is probably one of the best Romanian movies ever made. Great script, wonderful actors (among them, even the director Mircea Veroiu), ballet ensemble, good dramatic scenes, human mixture of comedy and drama, talking about a troubled period of history when tension was building beneath the apparent tranquility of everyday life. Small signals suggesting the end of Romania's golden age, between the two world wars, when our currency was stronger than today's major currencies. In my opinion, it is probably the most "Hollywood"-style films set in showbiz life, but still very Romanian. I also liked a lot Margareta Pogonat, as the star's understanding wife, and Marin Moraru, as the butler, another brilliant actor, an acting icon for entire generations. One of Toma Caragiu's unforgettable roles - that of a comedian teaching his people dignity at all costs.