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Oglinda

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Wikipedia article




'Oglinda' ("The Mirror"), also known as 'nceputul adevrului' ("The Beginning of Truth"), is a controversial 1993 film by Romanian director Sergiu Nicolaescu. It depicts Romania during World War II, focusing on the Royal Coup that toppled Ion Antonescu, the Axis-allied 'Conductor' and authoritarian Prime Minister.

Cast



*Ion Siminie as Ion Antonescu

*Adrian Vlcu as Michael I of Romania

*Gheorghe Dinic as Mihai Antonescu

*tefan Radoff as Iuliu Maniu

*George Constantin as Andrey Vyshinsky

*Sergiu Nicolaescu as Johannes Friener

Reactions



The film was criticized as being apologetic of Antonescu, whom it portrays as a martyr figure, without mention being made of his complicity in the Holocaust ('see Holocaust in Romania').Liz Fekete, [https://www.irr.org.uk/cgi-bin/news/open.pl?id=2450 "Nostalgia for War-time Dictator Grows"] , in 'Independent Race and Refugee News Network', May 1, 1994Radu Ioanid, "Romania", in David S. Wyman, Charles H. Rosenzveig (eds.), 'The World Reacts to the Holocaust', Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore & London, 1996, p.251. Keno Verseck, 'Rumnien', Verlag C. H. Beck, Munich, 2007, p.183. 'Oglinda' is also sympathetic to Antonescu's Nazi German ally Adolf Hitler, who is depicted as a calm and wise politician. Nicolaescu himself claims that journalist Octavian Paler labeled it a "fascist film". [http://sergiunicolaescu.ro/filme-lung-metraj-oglinda-2-serii-1994/ Presentation of 'Oglinda'], on [http://www.sergiunicolaescu.ro/ Sergiu Nicolaescu's official site]

The film was also criticized for several other errors. Historian and former public servant Neagu Djuvara, who in 1944 represented Antonescu's government to Stockholm, where he contacted the Soviet Union representative Alexandra Kollontai and unsuccessfully negotiated an armistice, rejected the film's allusive take on these events, which claimed that Romania's special requests had been ignored by their counterparts, and called it "a lie". Neagu Djuvara, [http://destinatii.liternet.ro/destinatii.php?art=160 'Reacii occidentale fa de situaia din Romnia n perioada 1947-1960'], Sighet Memorial Summer School Conference, 7th edition (2004), at LiterNet; retrieved March 31, 2009 According to Sergiu Nicolaescu, former Romanian King Michael I, the main decision factor behind Antonescu's deposition, objected to his character being depicted as a heavy smoker. Speaking in 2008, Djuvara criticized 'Oglinda' in its entirety for mystification, while expressing similar reserves in respect to Nicolaescu's 2008 project, a biographical film on Michael's ancestor Carol I ('Carol I - Un destin'). Alexandra Olivotto , [http://www.cotidianul.ro/sergiu_nicolaescu_am_facut_un_film_in_doua_saptamani_va_dati_seama-56406.html "Sergiu Nicolaescu: 'Am fcut un film n dou sptmni, v dai seama?' "], in 'Cotidianul', August 28, 2008

Nicolaescu's 1993 production received negative assessments from several film critics. As part of his commentary on Nicolaescu's entire filmography, beginning with films he produced under the communist regime, Valerian Sava depicted Nicolaescu as an untalented director caught in a "megalomaniac trance", and deemed 'Oglinda' "a rudimentary historical reenactment". Valerian Sava, [http://www.observatorcultural.ro/FILM.-Gura-pacatosului-S.-Nicolaescu-si-despaducherea-cinematografiei*articleID_532-articles_details.html "Film. Gura pctosului S. Nicolaescu i 'despducherea' cinematografiei"], in 'Observator Cultural', Nr.97-98, January 2002 A similar overview was provided by Angelo Mitchievici, who described "the honor of a dueler", a clich which he believed was characteristic of 'Oglinda' as well as its predecessors 'Mihai Viteazul' and 'Nemuritorii'. Angelo Mitchievici, [http://www.observatorcultural.ro/Pistoliada-ultimul-fum-ultimul-cartus...*articleID_19628-articles_details.html "Pistoliada ultimul fum, ultimul cartu..."], in 'Observator Cultural', Nr. 420-421, April 2008

Nicolaescu defended his film, claiming that its critics were "afraid to look in the face of history." He referred to 'Oglinda' as "real history, without any form of restriction", and "the first and only Romanian political film." He also maintained that Corneliu Coposu, a first-hand witness to the events, applauded the film upon its premiere.

References




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