Michael the Brave aka Mihai Viteazul, writer Titus Popovici

Michael the Brave aka Mihai Viteazul, writer Titus Popovici

This film used to be such an entertainment and somewhat miraculous achievement…when I was about ten…

Maybe twelve.

However, as time goes by, we become wiser, most of us, and capable to distinguish value from junk.

This is not to say that Michael the Brave is garbage.

In fact, there are many Character Strengths that both the main character and the actor playing it have:

Amza Pellea is portraying this Wallachian Prince and the former has been one of the best actors we ever had.

Michael the Brave used to be celebrated as one of the most, if not the most important of all rulers.

Communists, nationalists used to, and are still religiously admiring leaders that they say promoted the “nation”.

This prince has miraculously united the three provinces that make up Romania today, but had been ruled as separate lands for centuries.

Corrupt or just mistaken historians have attributed this achievement to noble ideas related to one people, one country.

Only the reality was different.

Most likely, Michael the Brave was much more interested in gaining more power and taking control of a large territory.

His motives must have been more tactical, military, diplomatic and political than idealistic nationalism.

Michael the Brave was one of the elements, historical figures that have been used to create a glorious scenario.

In that version of history, which is alas still a holy text for so many lost cases here, the Austrians have been saved by…us.

Perhaps even the French and the Germans!

Because we stood watch over here and protected the Christian West!

The advancing Turkish, Ottoman hordes had to fight us!

In addition, we have so often defeated them!

Alhamdulillah!

This is of course just nonsense.

However, Michael the Brave is part of that proposition and the film is supposed to glorify and consecrate the character.

Having said that, I must now emphasize that this was not some silly puppet, maneuvered by the Ottoman sultan.

Here are just some of the Signature Strengths demonstrated by this phenomenal military and political leader:

Bravery, Creativity, Open-mindedness, Perspective-well, up to a point-Leadership, Mercy, sometimes,

Persistence, Curiosity, Vitality, Social Intelligence, Hope, Spirituality, Integrity-to a great extent

As a ruler of a small territory, surrounded by enemies like the mighty Ottoman Empire and the Austro- Hungarian one, choices were bad.

The film portrays military victories that, even if exaggerated by propaganda motives or just silly belief, did exist.

Michael the Brave, Mircea the Old, Steven the Great are just three of the many princes that had to face the Turks.

Their victories must be noted and to a degree admired, but we must not live in a past that is magnified and finally discredited.

Yes, we did try to maintain independence, but faced with a much bigger force we mostly failed.

Nevertheless, Michael the Brave can serve as a role model, but only if we also admit his shortcomings.