Morometii 2 aka Moromete Family: On the Edge of Time - 7 out of 10

Morometii 2 aka Moromete Family: On the Edge of Time
7 out of 10


This seems to be the most successful film, in my own country, with a record box office that is reflected in the 7.9 average rating that viewers have given this motion picture.

Alas, I do not share the enthusiasm that the audiences at large have shown.
The producer Tudor Giurgiu, a very talented, phenomenal organizer of the successful Transilvania Film Festival, has even talked about a possible part III.

It makes sense, for sequels of successful franchises bring in astounding piles of cash in America and elsewhere, for the likes of the Fast and Furious, Avengers, Revengers and so on.
Furthermore, the Moromete Family I and II, for all the flows of the latter, are far superior to the Furious features that make no demands of the brain of the public.

Morometii I was much better and it is reviwed at realini.blogspot.com.
The main problem with the second, very recently released second part that had its premiere the other day on HBO is that the original material is flawed.

In high school, we had a Superman as teacher of literature and he gave his infallible verdict on the book:

Read the first volume for it is worth it and if you want only, consider the second.
Which is the basis for the 2018 mega hit...at Romanian cinemas.

Whereas in the first act we had a family and its feuds taking place before communism, On the Edge of Time has the elements of the tyranny in the background.

Horatiu Malaele used to be an iconic figure d he is not altogether inadequate in the leading role of Ilie Moromete, but he gives a performance that makes at least this cinephile regret the absence of Victor Rebengiuc, the best we have had since George Constantin has died, more than twenty years ago.
The Ilie Moromete from the first film had panache, charm, complexity, various fine strains that seem to be missing from The Edge of Time.
Malaele does not fail, it could be argued that it is also a case of too high expectations,  knowing the majesty, mesmerizing presence of Victor Rebengiuc in the first part.

An almost absolute failure appears to be the less than pale effort of Iosif Pastina as Niculae, the key figure, would be heir to the throne in the Moromete clan, if they ever get away from The Edge of Time, which by the way, also seems like a rather pompous choice for a title.

For local audiences there is an undeniable pleasure in watching the creme de la creme appear on screen and deliver, on the whole, decent, if not overwhelming, performances.
Granted, they do not have outstanding material to work with.

Again, the second volume of the anyway rather overrated Morometii is not glorious and it shows in the film.
Stere Gulea is the writer and director of the film.

He is an extremely talented creator, as proved by Morometii not yet On the Edge of Time.
Alas, for The Family part II, his inspiration and skills could not deliver gold from simple rock.

Finally, this note is more likely flawed than the motion picture.
It has been so much enjoyed by so many!

And it deals with important, thought provoking themes.
Communism is exposed, albeit at times in what appears to be a convoluted, surely intended to be fair way.

The pain of having property taken away by the new regime, bent on taking from the rich and giving to the poor, but in theory only.
Animal Farm is remembered, with the all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others Absolute Truth.

Plus, a deeply buried resentment of the tyranny, the loathing provoked by looking at what the monsters have done to my people must have contributed to the negative take on the movie itself.