The Return of King Lapusneanu

for Romanian Comunist regime, the film was a tool of propaganda. the historical movie has a special status, for legitimate the policy of regime. sure, it was not only the case of Romania. The Return of Lapusneanu is one of rare exceptions. not only for the aesthetic value, for the profound influence of Eisenstein’s Ivan the Terrible, for the performances who are more than ideological dolls , but for the status of reflection of Ceausescu’s political evolution. the first years of regime defined by the connections with the Western Europe and USA, a large autonomy for people, and the final period – a Stalinist dictatorship. the reign of Lapusneanu, the revenge against nobles, the fall in a paranoid circle, the end of reforms who could transform the country are perfect mirror for regime’s evolution. but, in same measure, for the director Malvina Ursianu is only a detail. because the purpose is to present the role of personality in history. the good cast, the good script are the axis of a profound reflection about power and about the solitude of the leader. and about the fight for create the good projections. a beautiful film. maybe, not only for the image but for the message.