Under the shade of a walnut In 1973, two Romanian directors decided to film the stories of their compatriot-classic national literature Ion Agirbichanu. This is how this film came to be, consisting of two filmed short stories by two different directors. The film turned out whole, in many respects, thanks to the original source. In addition, although the story lines do not directly overlap, but the time and place of action are common. Screen time between stories is divided almost with apothecary accuracy, the difference is seconds. The stories taken vary, as do the methods and techniques used to adapt to the cinema, but not significantly. The main thing they say about one thing: the bitterness and vulnerability of love in a world where the gap between the powerful rich and the disadvantaged poor is monstrous and insurmountable.
History of the first "Fefeleague".
Fefeleaga, both inside Romania and abroad, is considered one of the pinnacles of Agirbichan’s work. In short prose, so accurately listed among the first. It tells the story of a woman who has already buried several sons and a husband, and her last child, a dying daughter. They live on the verge, even beyond, of poverty. This is all the more "ironic" that a woman (like her late husband and sons in their time) is working hard in a gold mine. But nothing but sickness and death can be earned. The girl has only one wish - a beautiful dress, seen in the store. Of course you can't afford it. But the day will come when the mother will buy this dress, but what is behind it and how timely this action will learn from the film. Emotionally, it's a very difficult story. And it is immediately clear that it is more voluminous and multifaceted to tell it by literary means. The movie was tolerable. Tolerable. It seems to me that the production lacked relaxation, determination and poetic solutions. All played on one note. Quite reserved, almost stingy, and minimalist. Expressiveness should be added. But anyway, it was impressive. Partly because of the initially strong dispositions (literary foundation). But an adequate assessment of its capabilities by the director played a role. The episode is devoid of manipulation and pathetic. And the emotionality, albeit discreet, is still there. This combination of humility and steadfastness, meekness and strength of spirit that reigns in the mother’s character is well conveyed. After some time I came to the conclusion that the chosen approach is justified. Better to shoot could only titans of cinema like Bergman or Dreyer, the level of which, we can say, almost unattainable and extremely rare.
History of the Second "At the Wedding"
A deserter meets a wandering artist who was invited to perform at a wedding, and asks him to be his companions. Soon the reasons for unauthorized excommunication from the army and interest in the craft of the artist will be revealed: his beloved acts as a bride at the wedding. They know each other, and their feelings do not cease. Gradually, the already not particularly festive atmosphere of the celebration begins to be replaced by a state of anxiety and nervousness. The groom senses something wrong, the guests are clearly confused. In the songs and dances performed by artists, something prickly and prickly, exciting and threatening, skips and slips. The dramatic consequences for some of the main participants in the events are not long in coming.
Unlike the first story, there is a lot of poetry here. This is facilitated by a beautiful musical accompaniment consisting of singing folk ballads and games on national musical instruments. And lively, very mobile, agile and plastic camera work, which restlessly circles very tenaciously fixes and delicately and gracefully conveys the entire rich palette of emotions of the actors, up to the slightest halftones, fleeting shadows on the faces and eyes. Practically wordless, only visual means, but extremely clearly told the whole story, full of timidly expressed passions and hidden desires. I also note the ethnographic value: the ritual side of the wedding is shown very meticulously, on the verge of documentary. In all respects, a very successful part of the film.
Finally, as a bonus to the positive qualities of the film, I add the following: there was a desire to get acquainted with the work of the writer. He has already published his works in Russian.