Octav Chelar is a little over 28 years old. In his track record, he has already collected several, about five, short feature films.

When he graduated from high school, the doctoral professors at UNATC decided that he did not have the necessary qualities to become a director. It happens. Just like some people have doctorates. Naturally, Octave Chelar was angry and worried, but he also had the strength and wisdom not to abandon his calling. This young man of murderous modesty, an ardent movie buff, with solid readings, earned a living as an IT computer scientist even today. Even if, in my opinion, it is from a movie Dragon, strikes His first feature film “A thriller, a genre that is not very cultivated by Romanian directors, can be called a sensational debut. This is already proven by the recognition of the film at several international competitions.

dragon, Inspired by a real event that took place near Piatra Neamts, where the director comes from, this is a film about religion, dogma and mistakes, but by no means only about them. But also about family restrictions and disappointments. About loneliness and hypocrisy. About running away from the truth and about traumatized beings at different ages. Even if in life, at least for some of them, everything seems to be fine. A deceptive ok, like the one before the death of the mother in the life of Meursault, the famous hero stranger to Camus

Dragon is a film about how difficult it is to determine who is at fault when an accident occurs. An error which in the eyes of God, as in the eyes of the community, is as great as a house.

Ekaterina, absolutely wonderful, with an extraordinary number of nuances, played by Melina Manovici, is about 38 years old. She is a religion teacher. orthodox. A teacher who accepts competitive discussions with his students. So it also has what would be called, after the French model, free auditors. Who stay in class even if they don’t want to give grades. He gets along well with colleagues, maintains friendly relations with the one played à la carte by Richard Bovnotsky. She is married to Dragosh, who is played strictly and exquisitely by Aleksandra Papadopol. Dragos is a priest who is no longer respected by the parishioners. Which he can’t get out of his mouth. Apparently, he is open, he does not necessarily want everyone to address him, Your Holiness. Very often it is presented simply. love He is diabetic, insulin dependent.

In the life of the discussed couple, everything seems to be perfect. Hierarchies are clear. The husband-priest also occasionally argues with his wife when she comes to Communion not covered enough or does not confess. Or when he contradicts them, as parents should not (Oana Ștefănescu and Marian Râlea). The mother’s authority is undeniable and should remain so, even if the mother-in-law always reminds the daughter-in-law about an obscure, controversial fact that happened at the graduation banquet at school.

Kateryna and Dragoš have a boy who has reached adolescence. He is successful, he is handsome (Voicu Dumitraș), he is a choir singer. It seems that he is preparing to follow his father’s fate. Both have a well-ordered house, in which icons are not everywhere. However, there are much more discreet religious symbols. With art shot by cinematographer Barbu Belasa. Martin Kohlstedt’s soundtrack is excellently voiced in the film.

There are also little secrets in the couple’s life. Kateryna runs, jogs, but she also does it because somewhere, in a well-chosen place, she hides cigarettes, and her husband does not necessarily know about it. This is something forbidden for priestesses. The secrets will expand from the moment a student named Iuliu enters high school. A boy with a dark past due to a difficult relationship with his mother, as well as a present that is not devoid of shadows. Julius is a mixture of an angel and a demon. He was sensationally played by a very young actor, Serhiy Smerea, a student at the time of filming.

Iuliu captures Katerina, and she falls into sin. Hence the danger that the film will become another variation on the theme of forbidden relationships between female teachers and female students. Do you remember To die of love? At least Aznavour’s bright song? Banality is completely excluded thanks to Octave Chelar’s intellect, the director rejects sensationalism, drama, and cheap sentimentality. But also, as I said, thanks to the exceptional interpretations of Melina Manovici and Sergio Smerea. Kateryna tries to keep everything under control, but she doesn’t really succeed. Relapse. He calls Yulia to a meeting. Kateryna has fake friends she resorts to principled arguments when asked to cover it.

Florin quickly understands everything and lives his own drama. A very tense war of brains begins between Iuliu and Ekaterina. Iuliu plans to take revenge, but his revenge is not only on the adulterous woman who used him (she thanks him at the end of the first intercourse, indicating that in her eyes Iuliu was only a kind of service provider), but also on the mother who inflicted he has so many injuries. Calculate now. Read the whole article and comment on Contributors.ro