Vlad, l'impalatore

The movie "Vlad Țepeș" presents us the life and deeds of Vlad the Impaler during his reign, the challenges he faces and the sheer determination he had to overcome them.

The acting, costumes and scenery are all top, as well as the historicity of the actions in the movie, but the real thing that makes the movie special is Vlad and his deeds, it's more than a life lesson, it's a new moral understanding that he left his people as a legacy, that things can be different, that evil can be defeated, and by not only opposing but actually fighting the typical human weaknesses and wickedness, he managed to stay in the collective memory of his people and foes, thus becoming an immortal, and the personification both cruelty and righteousness and that the human spirit can indeed cleanse itself and get closer to perfection and justice by deeds rather than words.

This movie should be an inspiration for all humanity, willpower overcomes evilness and weakness, and sets us free.

History buffs will be enthralled with this accurate depiction of the 15th century brief rule of Vlad the Impaler who became Romania's great national hero. Stefan Sileanu is nothing less than great in the role of the ruthless, bloody sovereign who defied Church, tradition, and the obduracy of his fractious boyars in order to drive the invading Ottoman Turks under Mahmud II out of his country. But first he had to overcome entrenched opposition from his own rebellious and traitorous nobles. He accepted nothing less than obedience...fight or die. His uncompromising stand and dire punishments earned him his sobriquet, but after viewing this masterful film one is left astounded at his great achievement during his short reign. Bram Stoker has a lot to answer for in fictionalizing this astonishing patriot into a horrific monster. Anyone interested in the truth about this legendary personality should see this film.

To speak about Vlad Țepeș is always a risk. Too many masks. The hero, the demon, the myth, the vampire, the character of historiography and the silhouette of Bram Stoker. The leader from chronicles and the model for Russian czars. A story without frontiers and rules. And, for the circle be full, the Communist vision about past, part of an absurd ideology. So, Procust bed. And, in this case, a good result. A story about courage and justice, patriotic values and crumbs of Medieval facts, politically correct and not very far from facts. A sage interpretation of a period with small extravagant sparkles. Ștefan Sileanu at perfect place, in struggle to create an interesting character, Ernest Maftei in same eternal role and director under PCR pressure. Today, an ironic remark is obligatory. But the 80 years was not a comfortable decade in Romania. In this case, like more others, a gentle smile is enough. And search to discover the dust of that period in its movies.

The communistic states used historical films to make propaganda on their policy, as well as to promote national pride. Romania was not an exception and this film is one of the most interesting of its kind.

It presents the true story of Romania's national hero, prince Vlad Tepes of Vlachia, a man who tried to reform his country and resist the Ottoman invasions, using every way available, no matter how cruel, in order to succeed. The idea is that the cause justifies the means and for this, Vlad Tepes was a perfect example.

Having cinema treating their national hero as a monster since 1922, the Romanians have every right to present him as a cruel BUT great leader, which he practically was. There have been other films about this topic but no other has approached so much the historical truth as this one.

Worth the trouble of watching if you don't hate history.

Excellent film biography of Vlad Dracula, also called Vlad Tepes (Tse-pesh), or "The Impaler", a nickname bestowed upon this 15th century warrior by enemies - the Turks of the Ottoman Empire - after his favorite method of execution. This is a good, albeit one-sided, biography of the historical Dracula, who is considered a great hero of Romania for defending his home country against excessive and insurmountable odds, which were later proven to be just that. Some of the salient facts are skewed just a bit (you can't make a hero look too much like a monster - which is what both the Turks and the Germans thought him to be), but the story is still great, and is comparable in its way to "Braveheart." Definitely recommended, but difficult to find.