Draga Olteanu Matei

Lupeni 29

Based on true events. In the Romanian town of Lupeni August 5, 1929, driven to despair by hard labor conditions miners under the leadership of Communists organized a strike. The miners demanded higher wages and an eight-hour workday. They opposed the government's attempts to shift the entire burden of the economic crisis onto the workers' shoulders. The government, concerned about the scale of the strike and the workers' determination not to give in to their demands, ordered troops to shoot at unarmed people. On August 7, the strike was brutally suppressed. Many workers were killed. But these events have forever gone down in the history of the Romanian labor movement as an example of solidarity, heroism and invincibility of the people.

Împușcături pe portativ

In this cinematographic variety show, the strong point is the ballet: inventive, original, modern, pleasant, filmed with a great power of suggestion by the cinematographer Alexandru Întorsureanu, using superimpositions to enhance the movement.

Golgotha

Six widows demand compensation for the death of their husbands, who were killed during a worker's strike. The women are arrested and taken to the police quarters, where the authorities try to make them retract their statements, but it turns out they're not so easily intimidated.

The Bet

Based on a 19th century tale, this self-referential fantasy, complete with musical and animated interludes plus a cast of fairytale characters, tells the story of a bet between an old man and a fairy over a bag with two gold coins.

Blanca

Adaptation after Fat Frumos din tei by Mihai Eminescu

The Enchanted Grove

Lizuca is only six years old, not much older than her pet dachshund Patrocle, when her mother dies and she is left to live with her grandparents on their farm. Before long, Lizuca's father comes to take her away to live with him and his new bride, a vile woman who considers children the bane of all existence. Lizuca and the dachshund escape the wicked stepmother and spend the night in a hollow tree, a tree that changes into an enchanted land where Lizuca (like Alice through the Looking Glass) discovers a world of characters in the form of bees, frogs, the four seasons, Snow White, her dwarves, and other fairy tale creatures. This magic place is threatened by the evil stepmother's plan to sell the grove that protects the secret land to developers -- a decision that puts the woman on trial before this perfidy can be realized.

Uncle Marin, the Billionaire

At a swanky hotel in a Black Sea resort, Gogu, one of the hotel employees, meets his uncle Marin, an Oltenian peasant who has come to visit. Gogu says he can sneak Marin into the hotel, as one of the rooms is empty awaiting the arrival of an American billionaire, Mr. Juvett. Marin is amazed by the revealing clothing worn by women at the resort, while the hotel guests are fascinated by his quaint peasant costume. In the hotel room, Marin is perplexed by the various gadgets. Meanwhile, the gangsters learn that Juvett has arrived at the hotel. Juvett is the father of the kidnapped girl, and is coming to pass over a million dollar ransom. A rival gang, who know about the kidnapping, plan to take the ransom for themselves. They follow Marin, believing him to be Juvett.

Bucharest Identity Card

A provincial young girl, a farming engineer, does not want to return to the countryside on graduating, but stay in the capital. But she needs a Bucharest identity card to do this. Her solution is to "buy" a husband...

Autumn of the Goslings

The action takes place in a small Romanian village where three young graduates are sent to fill out the doctor, French teacher , agronomist unfilled jobs. They are regarded with distrust by most of the people in the village, most of them believing that neither of them will stay there. However they will be proved wrong as the young graduates, except the French teacher, want to stay there,do their job the best they know how and try to get used to the ways of that community . After you see this movie you can't help loving all the characters.

A Bomb Was Stolen

A dialogue free Romanian science-fiction spy-comedy that draws upon farce, satire and surrealism as it subversively deconstructs the spy thriller with the protagonist's accidental discovery of a nuclear suitcase bomb and the subsequent fight over ownership between the rival powers of the criminals and the military.

Repeated Wedding

This is the second part for the "Buletin de Bucureti" movie.

Gaițele

Provincial atmosphere. The conflicts, customs and morals of a family of merchants from Craiova unwittingly destroy the love and even the life of a vulnerable young girl through her naivety and romanticism.

Cucoana Chirița

The Bârzoi manor comes back to life when the lady of the house, Chirița, sends news that she will be soon coming back from Paris. As the City of Light has changed her views on the world, the family and the help must follow.

Dănilă Prepeleac

It is the story of Danila Prepeleac, a silly, clumsy man that does things backwards. Once he took off for the market wanting to sell a pair of nice healthy bulls. On the way to the market he exchanged the bulls for an empty wallet. But this is only the start of Danila's adventures.

The Poseidon Explosion

A group of firefighters discover explosives on an abandoned ship which threatens the local city

Bariera

In 1942, Nea' Vitu is in trouble with his children: a son is fascinated by the world of war profiteers, and the daughter is going around with the speculator "Treispemii" (Dan Nutu). On the evening of her engagement, Vitu is denounced by his son for hiding an illegal printing press in a painter's house. Thirty years later, he returns to the slum and searches for the Vitu family. They no longer live there, the neighbors have changed, and he investigates to find out what happened to them. Nea Vițu, you raise your daughter, Rădița, and son Fănică. His wife Dorina died when Fănică was born. Apparently, family problems are difficult barriers to overcome. He's an honest man. He gets angry at the slick Fănică. Fănică is also chased away by the slum priest, because he wanted to make a new bible... where he'd be Fănică the God .... Rădița goes around with the speculator "Treispemii". In 1942, nea Vițu joins the fight against the Nazis and runs an illegal printing house with a painter...

Filip the Kind

Young Filip tries to figure out how to live in a world full of compromise and corruption.

Pisica de mare

The Romanian Ministry of State Security has learned that foreign intelligence is hunting for plans for blue mines, where strategic raw materials are mined. This task is carried out by a gang led by a spy named Sea Cat.

The Outlaws

First of 2 films set during the 18th century in the mountains of Wallachia, about a band of outlaws aiming to undermine the rule of the Phanariots and the Ottomans. The story evolves around the two stepbrothers who lead this band, Sarbu and Amza, with their complex and violent relationship.

The Thirst

The communists are taking over the boyar land and do the agrarian reform.

Stephen the Great: Vaslui 1475

In 1475 when Stephen the Great, ruler of Moldavia is facing an invading Ottoman army of 120 000 men, the fate of Christian Europe largely depends on the battle's outcome.

Telegrams

Geared more for the home crowd with a good knowledge of their own history, this Romanian political comedy takes place at the turn of the 20th century, when two opposing factions are going at each other tooth and nail to win an election. One candidate is a staunch if not deluded conservative and the other is a radical liberal. Anticipating modern election campaigns by a good half a century, the two candidates decide that the best way to win is to sling as much mud as possible. Lacking the Internet and fifteen-second TV spots, they do the best they can -- they send each other virulent telegrams denouncing each other's personal failings.

The Revenge of the Outlaws

Second of 2 films set during the 18th century in the mountains of Wallachia, about a band of outlaws aiming to undermine the rule of the Phanariots and the Ottomans. The story evolves around the two stepbrothers who lead this band, Sarbu and Amza, with their complex and violent relationship.

A Midsummer Day's Smile

Fanita, a young man desirous to earn money as a result of personals initiatives, will fail in all these businesses , is ultimately convinced to enter in the Agricultural Production Comradeship or Community from his village.

The Uprising

After years of deplorable conditions of poverty and injustice, peasants revolt against the landowners, the social elite, and police in this routine social drama. A peasant woman is raped by a lecherous wealthy lesbian, and chaos breaks out in the rural areas where the poor suffer the most from the oppressive social and economic conditions.

The Making of the World

Around the nationalization in 1948, a worker's daughter, as a student, is attracted by the social life offered by a breed horse owner. The relationship will sour by the cruelty with which he kills the horses, rather then give them away.

The Martens Brothers

Historical movie based on the "The Martens Brothers" (Romanian: Frații Jderi) novel. Ionut is the youngest son of Commissar Jder, a trusted man of Stephen the Great. He falls in love with Nasta, the daughter of a boyar, and competes for her affections with Alexăndrel, the ruler's own son. His longing for Nasta gives impetus to Ionuț, who, together with his brothers, puts his life at the service of Moldavia.

Tonight We'll Celebrate in the Family

The main characters are two "Don Juans", professional "fiancees", who travel the country in search of desperate women willing to spend money to find their soulmates.

Hot Days

In summer 1975 at the Constanța Shipyard, director Mihai Coman pushes to cast a massive ship propeller in-house, facing technical failures, internal resistance, and political hesitation. As the casting repeatedly breaks and deadlines loom, he must overcome engineering hurdles and personal sacrifices to see the vessel launched with the home-forged propeller.

Iarna bobocilor

Sequel of "Toamna bobocilor". Two years have passed since the first meeting with our heroes and something strange happened in Viisoara: the men disappeared! Because they were commanded by a woman, they preferred to leave and take a job at another factory. Toderas stayed on as a "handyman", preferring this "position" to that of brigadier. In the village a character appears who will turn everything upside down, and Varvara will have to take a radical measure...

Operation 'The Bus'

In 1950 a Western spy is clandestinely parachuted into Communist Romania to retrieve secret WW2 codes and agent lists and also to assist a group of anti-Communist guerrillas escape but the Communist police is setting a trap.

Promisses

Problems ensue once a girl finds about her biological father which tries to be a part of her life.

For Motherland

In 1877 during the Russo-Turkish war the Kingdom of Romania joins the war on Russia's side and declares its independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Iancu Jianu, Tax Collector

The movie details the struggle of Iancu Jianu as he's torn between joining the struggle of the poor peasants from which he came from and being on the other side of the law working for the rich.

Iancu Jianu, Outlaw

The movie is set in 1788-1843, a tumultuous era for Walla Wallachia, when the Phanariot regime was exercising its power over the people. In a world marked by oppression, the young Iancu Jianu becomes a symbol of resistance, fighting against abuses. Together with his friend Mereanu, Jianu plans courageous actions to stand up to the tyranny of the Phanariots and bring justice to the country. His journey brings him into contact with Tudor Vladimirescu, the leader of the 1821 rebellion movement, and the two unite in a fierce struggle for freedom and independence.

The Famous Paparazzo

A tabloid photographer is given the assignment to follow a politician suspected to have sexual relations with an underage girl.

The Kidnapping of the Maidens

In 19th century Wallachia war-bands of Ottoman Turks from across the Danube river raid Wallachia with impunity, while Wallachia's Phanariote rulers don't oppose them.

White Trial

Matei recollects events of the year 1944 in order to prove the innocence of a friend. Based on "Șoseaua Nordului" (Northern Highway) novel by Eugen Barbu.

A World Wihout Sky

A movie about miner strikes in 1292 Jiu Valley. It is made from re-cutting and combining two previous movies, "Lupeni '29" and "Golgota", that were shot much earlier.

The Brothers

Family conflicts in the times of communist collectivization.

The Man in the Overcoat

Threatening letters, phone calls in the middle of the night... Who is threatening engineer Stamatiad?

Intemperance

A war widower with two kids marries a rich tanner. Her greed tears the family apart, resulting in a lot of misfortune. Based on "Hiena" novel by Petru Vintilă.

Postcards with Wildflowers

In 1970s Romania, Laura, a young architect, becomes pregnant by her married lover, Titel. Desperate and alone, she travels to a remote town for an illegal abortion. There, she meets Irina, a local girl who tries to change her mind. A quiet, devastating portrait of control, shame, and the cost of forbidden choices.

Silent Friends

Two dogs and a duck are saving a family.

The Last Night of Loneliness

The movie depicts a peasant with a very strong personality that copes with the changes in the Romanian village.

Because They Are in Love

A judge falls in love with a married woman.

Serenade for the 12th Floor

Light comedy about various Bucharest house dwelling families trading their houses for apartments in a brand new apartment building complex in a new subdivision of a large Bucharest neighborhood.

The Teacher's Correspondence

A subpoena on perception turns the life of a teacher upside down when he finds himself taxed for what he never even had: two buffalo. Because of the aberrant bureaucracy, he can't even get rid of the fictitious cuckolds...

The Court Adjourns the Sentencing

A judge is tasked to investigate a mining accident.

Taste and Color of Happiness

A nonconformist engineer challenges some stereotypical negative communist characters.

Together Again

An young agronomist insists to start using a new corn variety, but the collective farm chief is against it.

Grandpa and Two Young Offenders

A police officer is investigating the disappearance of a colleague's young boy. His key seems to be the "dark skinned" friend of the boy about whom nobody cares, including the police.

The Major and Death

A police major is investigating a gangster.

Ana and the Thief

A young man is freed from prison. The communists are reforming him.

Expresul de Buftea

Film montage, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Romanian comedy, using fragments from Romanian films from 1927-1977. The connecting sequences - the conversations of cinephile travelers on their way to the film studios in Buftea - account for about 40% of the total length of the film. We are grateful to the filmmakers for the reunions with great actors who have passed away or great living actors. We are very grateful to them for their kind and benevolent effort to entertain us in every way and in every way; the comedy way, the musical way, the music-hall way, all ways, because, if you look closely, an excellent comic moment comes from a detective movie.