RyothChatty ridiculous rating

pointyfilippa The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Kirpianuscus 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.

xammer This film is set during the 1930s, when the pro-Nazi policy of King Carol II of Romania gave support to the rising Iron Guard movement of Romania. A theatre manager, Caratase (inspired by the real-life actor Constantin Tanase), is threatened by the Iron Guard in order to cancel his upcoming show which presents a negative portrayal of Nazi Germany.The film is rather slow and confusing, but it picks up speed during the final hour - Caratase and the Iron Guard members have a verbal duel, while the show begins to play.The acting, especially if a current-day perspective is considered, can be perceived as poor and unconvincing (with the exception of some outstanding moments by Toma Caragiu). This, taken with the soundtrack, which doesn't always fit to the tone of the scenes, can sometimes break the suspension of disbelief. Note that this is a general problem of Romanian films, and it has started to be corrected only recently (in films such as "California Dreamin'" or "Restul e tacere").All in all, the ending scenes are worth sitting through the whole 150 minutes of the film. However, patience is advised to an uninitiated viewer.

zazoo1 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.

Armand 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.