I resent the way Ersbel Oraph spitefully threw here a few words about "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu" as being the sole product of Communist propaganda. Many feature films (including historical ones) were created at that time accepting the ideological pattern. We, Romanians lived in a country where the media only spoke of what it was told to speak. One might say actors had a choice: to refuse the communist ideology and propaganda. Yes, they could have! Just as the Russians could have refused to create USSR at the beginning of the 20th century, and the Germans could have told Hitler they don't agree with his policy of conquest! What does an actor do in a Communist country? What does a walking bird do? Can one say no to one's calling? I will never be judgmental when it comes to acting in Communist times. Great actors, like those in this movie, have delivered masterpieces. The New Year's Eve TV programs have never been equaled since Ceauşescu's demise. "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu" is an easy going comedy. It is a time document. It's how it was! I don't mean that factory managers were young, glittering and concerned about the Communist goals! But what I do mean is that the Romanian seaside was a great place to go, it was affordable and most Romanians had no problem getting cheap "Union tickets" for seaside hotels, room and board. The movie does stigmatize the social morals of the time. For instance, many had gone along with the idea that the Party was "all-knowing" and "all-powerful" and tried to profit themselves by using the "wooden language" (in Romania we referred to the "wooden language" as being the "ideologically correct" kind of talk that the Communist activists wanted to hear from you - which would clear you from suspicions that you could be an "enemy of the state"). "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu" should be viewed accepting the fact that the actors wanted to enjoy themselves while creating a movie that would brighten the day of those who watched it. It's not true that the acting is mediocre. Florin Piersic, Dem Rădulescu, Sebastian Papaiani, Jean Constantin and other great actors acted splendidly, like they always did. I repeat, it's a light comedy and it should be watched as such. I have no idea how non-Romanians would see it, but I will always watch it with great pleasure. I have recently seen Stalin's favorite Russian movie: Volga-Volga. I entered the atmosphere of those times and was thrilled to understand a very simple truth: As an actor, you make do with what you have. I left aside the ideological considerations and heartily laughed at the playful way they acted. A movie like Volga-Volga is a time capsule. So is "Eu, tu şi Ovidiu". An artistic representation of a dream. For Communism was a dream. It started like a beautiful one and it ended a nightmare. Let's face it, human nature is terrible. But do we have to stay gloomy and harshly judge art from the standpoint of Puritanism? I conclude with a quote from Matthew 6:22, 23: If "thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.""
4 out of 6 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
