Morometii, based on the novel by Marin Preda, written and directed by Stere Gulea - 9 out of 10

Morometii, based on the novel by Marin Preda, written and directed by Stere Gulea

9 out of 10

Although this is a classic for our country, there is no link to a critic's review on the IMDB site- there are certainly many in other places, but it is probably not enough.

Granted, very few, a handful in many years perhaps, would be interested in making the effort to find this and read some notes about it, although I was lucky to see part of it again, last night, on the minor channel of the state television.

Leading the cast is the best actor we have - there used to be a tie with George Constantin, but alas, the latter is no longer alive - Victor Rebengiuc, who has the role of Ilie Moromete, the head of The Moromete Family - which is by the way the name of the film for foreign markets.

The story takes place about one hundred years ago, in rural Romania, where the men had almost absolute control over the women that they often, if not most of time, abused, made to work very hard in the fields, in the house and around it...not that today's society is perfect, come to think of it, the alleged most advanced democracy in the world has elected a bully, sexist, abuser called Trump to the highest office, therefore all around the world there is much progress to be made.

The family is plagued by feuds, jealousy, infighting that seem to announce an unavoidable calamity.

Nila, Achim and Paraschiv are the sons of Ilie Moromete from a previous marriage and now that they have become adults, they show contempt for their father and the step mother, sisters and brother, scheming to steal the sheep, horses and everything that they can grab from their own family.

Guica aka the late, wonderful Gina Patrichi is the aunt of the scoundrels and plays the role of the mastermind, the demonic creature who keeps pushing the brothers to look at how much they work - they are the heroes of the household in this disgusting, if at times amusing view and the others are just spoiled, lazy, ignoble, undeserving beneficiaries of their superhuman toil.

The head of the family is trapped between the warring factions, aware that the sons are mean, dishonest- one is tempted to say that they are clearly no good at all - but on the one hand, he feels that he has to keep the peace, try to navigate between Scylla and Charybdis, only here on the one side you have the good camp and on the other the evil fellas.

There is also a vicious trait in the hero, for he likes teasing, is entertained by disputes, almost like a peasant Socrates, using dialectical conflicts to find where the truth is, mocking the rather excessive religiosity of his wife, Catrina aka the acclaimed Luminita Gheorghiu, and using every opportunity to provoke and challenge.

He is delighted when his rich, obnoxious neighbor, Tudor Balosu aka another local legend, Dorel Visan, is infuriated by his games , allowing this mean individual to think he might sell land, when he has no intention, except to drive him mad with his traps.

An aspect that I disagree with and it is subjective, refers to the choice for Niculae Moromete, a very young, inexperienced actor - and we can understand that at the age of about eight, there is not much that we can demand of him - that lacks not the skills of an actor, which would be reasonable, but something else.

To this viewer, he is so much of an issue as to affect the film, in which he is a major personage, lacking charisma, je ne sais quoi, when in my view, it would have been better to find someone with the same level of skills, but with some charm

There is another important element that has influenced the perspective of this viewer and it refers to the original material.

In high school, we have been blessed with a phenomenal, outstanding, saintly, divine teacher of Literature, Anton Chevorchian, who has influenced his pupils in most matters referring to the curriculum, wonderful writers, literature and art in general.

Therefore, what he had to say on the subject of Morometii has stayed with me for decades.

The glorious Professor Chevorchian said that we should read the book, but only the first volume, the second was for us to decide.

In other words, part of the book was recommended, worthwhile and the other, last volume could be passed.

Marin Preda, a controversial, if acclaimed local writer has included in the second installment elements that the communist party, the censors or/and others would like, even if it does not become and homage for the system.

Nevertheless, knowing that the most esteemed authority for this cinephile has passed the judgment made the work less enticing.

Having said that, it must be underlined that there is a lot to enjoy in the film and the book – again, the first half only – and I can remember the fun we had mocking characters from this family of fighting people.

A few of the personages impress with their wit, the natural, emotional intelligence they have – especially Ilie Moromete and Cocosila – with his foul mouth and permanent use of shit and other expletives.

However, a good number are “rednecks” and quite rotten, villainous, aggressive, greedy, inhuman at that – Balosu is just such a case.

Like their counterparts in America – in love with an idiot, serial cheater, lying continuously, bragging about grabbing pussy, repeating to nausea that he is the smartest, the best at technology and everything else – in short a demented, medical case called the Donald – these rural folk here – the descendants of part of The Moromete Family and their community have brought this country to the point where it is impoverished by thieves, crooks who change the laws to escape prison and make robbery legal.

The grandchildren of many of the characters in the film have voted for the Red Plague aka the Party of Monsters, so there is another reason to watch the film with chagrin and dislike quite a few – the majority I guess – of the figures that populate the motion picture…

“Ba Nila’m!”