Balanta (1992)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Lucian Pintilie

Writers:

Ion Baiesu (novel)
Lucian Pintilie (writer)

Release Date:

22 January 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A description of Romania before Ceausescu's downfall, through the story of Nela. Daughter of a former colonel of the Securitate...

Plot Keywords:

Romania | Political | Based On Novel

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Maia Morgenstern	...	Nela
Razvan Vasilescu	...	Mitica
Victor Rebengiuc	...	Village mayor
Dorel Visan	...	Country Priest
Ion Pavlescu
Mariana Mihut	...	Priest's wife
Gheorghe Visu	...	Priest in the train
Dan Condurache	...	Prosecutor
Virgil Andriescu	...	Nela's father
Matei Alexandru	...	Butusina
Leopoldina Balanuta	...	Nela's mother
Magda Catone	...	Mitica's assistant
Ionel Mihailescu	...	Titi
Dorina Lazar
Vasile Popa

Also Known As:

Le chêne (France)
Stejarul (Romania)
The Oak (USA)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

France | Romania

Language:

Romanian

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Romania

Company:

MK2 Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of Mere rosii (1976)

Best Romanian Film Depicting Communist Humiliation of Intelligence and Culture

Actually the Romanian title of the movie would be "Balance" or "Scales" or "Steel Yard", pick the word most appropriate to your liking for the weight measuring gadget. The international titles (The Oak, la Chene) are linked to the last scene of the movie that metaphorically wraps up significations. The main characters have found the long sought, yet not traceable balance, equilibrium.

Why did I say that it depicts humiliation of intelligence and culture? In communist Romania people that graduated university or college were repartitioned to a job matching their studies. Only the luckiest got a repartition in a large city. Others were summoned for life in hamlets, as you could not promote or change your repartition unless joining the Party. That's the case with the leading character (Maia Morgenstern) that graduated Psichology in Paris, and was repartitioned in Copsa Mica, the most polluted city in Romania.

The caravan of insults starts with the train journey to her new work place. She is forced to switch trains in the night, take her clothes off in the presence of strangers, and ride 400 km standing in an overcrowded train. As she reaches Copsa Mica some people try to rape her, police torture and threaten her, and so on.

To certify the adage that special people congregate the Psichology graduate meets a funky doctor, that manages to elude the system by being some kind of a joker. Then the rejoicing begins as these 2 people get to know each other.

When they decide under the oak tree to give birth to a child she says: "I pray he won't be normal" and he responds "If he'll be normal I'll kill him with my own hands." For these two people being "normal" meant the supreme course. Everybody around was dull, normal and communist. Enjoy!