Atunci i-am condamnat pe toti la moarte

Plot synopsis:
The story follows a young boy, Elev, who is adopted by his uncle, Ioan, and his wife after Elev's father, a partisan during World War II, is killed by soldiers. Ioan is the local village priest and though gentle and intelligent, is frustrated by his ward's apparent inability to love him. Elev, who equally ignores girls his own age, would far rather spend time with Todor, nicknamed Ipu, the so-called village idiot. Together they fish and reenact the French Revolution in the ruins of a neighboring village that was decimated for a minor infraction against the German occupying force.
One day Elev watches a German cavalry officer conducting riding practice amid hay bales. Some time later the horse is seen galloping past without a rider and Elev finds the officer's corpse near the road. He reports the murder, but not before surreptitiously stealing the man's pistol. At the funeral, the local German commandant coldly informs the village that if the killer doesn't step forward by the next morning, the community's leaders (including Ioan and his wife, the mayor, the town doctor and the notary) will be executed.
That night Ioan hosts a sumptuous feast. Todor, who is usually the target of nothing but derision and ridicule, is not only invited for the first time, but is made the guest of honor. The doctor gives him an impromptu, suspiciously cursory physical and informs him that his poor lifestyle is catching up with him. It soon becomes clear what is going on: the community leaders want Todor to lie and confess to the murder so that they can be saved.
After some soul searching Todor gives in to their emotional supplications, but gradually realizes that for a brief window of time he holds a great degree of power and importance. He asks Ioan to perform a mock martyr's funeral so he can see what it will be like and, at the eleventh hour, demands money and land for the elderly, sick and crippled members of his family.
But at dawn the German's make a surprise retreat from the village and all are saved. Todor falls to his knees in tears, though it is unclear whether he is relieved to escape death or bereft over his lost opportunity for heroism. Ioan and the other local intellectuals immediately revert to their previous superior attitudes. Elev, observing their hypocrisy, mentally sentences them all to death. He draws out the officer's pistol and a single shot is heard, though the film makes it ambiguous who, if anyone, is the victim.

Tags: murder

Review:
One Romanian masterpiece.
This is a great Romanian movie...i am very subjective because i am Romanian...but anyone,with proper subtitles can enjoy this little masterpiece.It is not like other Nicolaescu's movies,it's more deep,it has a certain touch, a vibrant image that goes beyond the screen.Well directed,well played,tremendous script...what can i say more about it?It has nice FX for that age.Needles to say it benefits by the great great Amza Pellea an actor capable of turning rubble into stardust.He is the main character(Ipu) and his performance is ...how should i say...Oscar!!!Anyway i love the movie because it's alive,it's human and leaves you with a bittersweet taste...
the top of the list for Sergiu's best films.
This is in the top of the list for Sergiu's best films, maybe right under "Mihai Viteazu".
A delicate, clever insight on human behavior in times of fear and oppression, written by Titus Popovici, Sergiu's long-time friend and collaborator.
Powerhouse cast and crew renders even more beauty to the script.
For a change, everything works in this Romanian film.
From the first shot, one can feel this is a great film - the kid running in the field, and this feeling persists to the mind-blowing end.
Discussions about the army, between Pellea and the kid, the dinner sequence, the funeral rehearsal - they are all unforgettable moments.
Definitevly a winner at Cannes Festival 1971, if it had been selected..
about life.
a child.
a poor idiot.
and their strange, natural friendship.
theirs games.
and a murder.
the broken silence of a village.
the fear.
and the solution for protect the lives of the elite.
a film about childhood and life.
profound psychological analysis from a director well known for his historical films.
and a great role for Amza Pellea, the role of his life for the young Cristian Șofron.
portrait of souls, the film presents the clash between different universes.
and the impact of key moments for each character - the lost of his father and the war as model for revenge for the boy, the radical change of social perception for Ipu, the basic fear of people who define the escape from death as trade.
in same measure, it is an interesting picture of the universe of village.
and one of the most significant films by Sergiu Nicolaescu..
great.
Great movie with great actors.
You don't have to be from Romania or eastern Europe to really understand this movie.
Try it,you won't regret it.
It's one of those movies that you won't forget as long as you live.
The best movies ever made in Romania are those who have been made between 1970-1990.
Sergiu Nicolaescu is the greatest director from Romania.
You must see at least one of his many movies.You'll be amazed by his simplicity and his characters.Amza Pelea is one of the best actors from Eastern Europe.He's an icon in Romania and he is still alive after all of this time,in people's minds.If he was American,he would have become famous around the world..
World - definition of a child.
The world as construction of a child.
A village.
A war.
A war.
A crime.
And the best scapegoat.
Some circles.
like Visniec circles.
And few walks in the search of essence of life.
A movie who must be discover.
Story about colors of ages, about a lost village and its leaders.
The Nazi presence.
And a boy with his fried, the fool of community.
A film like a spring morning.
Delicate and common.
Sad and profound.
Game of gestures and lace of words.
After all, the death.
As last sign of a long expectation.
As key of soul's treasure.
As definition of silence.
A lesson for be yourself not a shadow of intentions.
Old "El laberinto del fauno".
Same taste.
Different recipes.