Triunghiul mortii

it is part of a large project - "Romanian Historical Epic ". and it reflects the same virtues and errors of Sergiu Nicolaescu art. but, like each piece of project, it is difficult, as Romanian viewer, to be very critic. because the film has good performances - Ilinca Goia is an example -, decent script and it reminds a dramatic episode from national history. Sergiu Nicolaescu gives large battle scenes and small personal stories. propose patriotic speeches and does bridge across almost a century realities. all in decent manner. and, knowing than the Romanian cinema from today ignores the historical frescoes, "Triunghiul morții" has the chance to not have adversary/competitor. so, a historical film. a pretty good one.

Director Sergiu Nicolaescu, obsessed by his people's history, focuses here on a crucial moment not only for the Romanians, but for humanity: World War One. Of course, the movie presents mainly the Romanian participation to the war, but not entirely separated by the European picture of that time. In fact, it is a tribute to the heroes that fought and died for the most sacred Romanian dream: the Unification. The main character of the film is Ecaterina Teodoriu, a young but courageous woman who sacrified for this purpose. Sergiu Nicolaescu also plays one of the key characters, General Averescu.

This is the last attempt of Nicolaescu on epic cinema. Since then, we've seen "Orient Express" and "15", two minor films more concerned with Sergiu's personal obsessions than with real, big-time cinema. "Triunghiul ..." took almost three years to complete, and the effort shows. A lot of the action takes place outdoors. The locations are spectacular, and so are the battle sequences. A 70 year-old Sergiu shows that he is still able to direct hundreds of live- action extras on a plausible World-War I battlefield. Ilinca Goia is the best presence in this film. The young actress' portrayal of Ecaterina Teodoroiu haunts us after the tragic end of the picture. Radu Banzaru makes, also, a remarkable debut in this film, impersonating a famous German aviator.