“It must be just like in life. You must do as we say”. These are the words that describe precisesly a time full of struggling and intense atrocities.  They appear in the movie Reconstruction, which was banned by the communist party three days after its premier, in 1970. In these words are held the essence and the problem of communism which considers that life could be directed by a handful of men by their own whishes.

Directed by Lucian Pintilie, the cast of the movie is exceptional: George Mihaita, Vladimir Gaitan, Emil Botta, Ernest Maftei and George Constantin. The movie is based on a story wrote by Horia Patrascu who also wrote the script for the movie. Recently it was declared the best Romanian movie of all the times by the Romanian Movie Critics Association.

What in the begging looks to be a simple procedure of reconstruction at the end it shows as an emotional and very powerful torture   against two boys, which during the week before the set, got drunk and broke the head of the bartender. The two boys Vuica (George Mihaita) and  Nicu (Vladimir Gaitan) have to remake the events at the place same place, a bar called „The Sea Gull” so that the authorities could realize an educational movie which would have been screen in cinematographs and public places.  The reconstruction would have become a lesson for all youngsters.

The action is marked by the noise made by the supporters of a football game that is held at the same time near the place of action. This sounds mark the most difficult parts of the movie generating a great effect.

The two protagonists, pressured by the authorities, are obliged to reconstruct step by step the events occurred a week ago. The prosecutor along with a team of cinematographers and a university professor are the ones which have to make sure that everything goes right.  One of the most interesting characters, the professor, is the one that observing the society in decrease is not capable to do anything but only looks with astonishment at what is happening.

The end of the movie is very surprising, being more serious as the initial deed. The conclusion is really clear: the man is not capable of controlling the consequences of his own actions, but he becomes responsible in front of all the humanity when conscious one abuses of his power to fulfill personal interest.

Photo source: cinemarx.ro