It's really a good movie; visually it is close to perfection and the direction is innovative and riveting. Nicolaescu captures perfectly the wild energy of the popular dance (Ciuleandra, hence the title). But unfortunately the acting, or rather the dialogue are unnatural and lack spontaneity. I've read the book and liked it, but the film was quite different. Also, it takes some time until the pieces fall into place and the beginning, despite being "spiced" with eerie dream sequences, is rather boring. In conclusion, this is a very decent movie and, particularly, a beautifully shot one. For those who like handsome movies, it is a must. The fact it was made before the fall of the Communist regime doesn't necessarily means it's aesthetically subdued. Even to modern standard, it's very convincing.
5 Reviews
interesting meeting
Vincentiu16 November 2012
a pretty good Romanian director. a great Romanian novelist. and a text, a real impressive cast, a fascinating dance. result - slice of Romanian tradition with nuances of psycho-drama. it is not more than seductive. option for Ion Rițiu, a favorite actor for Nicolaescu is not best option but the performance of Ștefan Iordache and Gheorghe Cozorici, the realistic metamorphose of young Mădălina and the use of nuances makes a good work. a film about obsession, ambitions, sin , guilty and fall. basic story. and refined use of it. the heart - Ciuleandra - madlene for revival of past, seal of a crime, axis of spiritual death. slice from old world, precise description of mental illness roots, it is crumb of an age memory. and proof of a director art .
One of the best!
fdexsingle17 December 2007
One of the best Romanian films! Very exciting, Ciuleandra gives you a reason to see the Romanian theater in a different way. Still a powerful film after all these years, with good acting, Ciuleandra remains one of the best films from Romania. One of the best Romanian films! Very exciting, Ciuleandra gives you a reason to see the Romanian theater in a different way. Still a powerful film after all these years, with good acting, Ciuleandra remains one of the best films from Romania. One of the best Romanian films! Very exciting, Ciuleandra gives you a reason to see the Romanian theater in a different way. Still a powerful film after all these years, with good acting, Ciuleandra remains one of the best films from Romania.
Fantastic movoe
movie_15 December 2020
beautiful
Kirpianuscus4 July 2017
aesthetic - a beautiful film. a film using the dance as reflection of passion, jealousy and fall. it is a beautiful film, in same measure, for the performances of Gheorghe Cozorici and Ștefan Iordache. and, maybe, the great bad point is Ion Rițiu who remains prisoner of the script. it is a film about the desire of happiness. decent adaptation of a text of Liviu Rebreanu. not bad reflection of the habits of a period and deep solitude of a man out of his life. short, one of the real good films of Sergiu Nicolaescu.
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