The screening of "Odessa in Flames", a film produced in 1942 and rediscovered in archives in 2005, could be seen in a restored version at the TIFF 2011. The screening took place at the Banffy Castle, the host of the second event of this kind, after last year, when Gary Lucas played his music for a version of the "Dracula".

The theme of "Odessa in Flames" is the invasion of Basarabia (the north-eastern part of Romania) by the soviet troops. Odd enough, the setting of the screening, at The Banffy Castle in Bontida, more than half a century later, takes place in a location which suffered a lot at the end of the WWII. The castle was set on fire by the retreating German troops in 1944 and resulted in the complete ruining of all the composing buildings, which altogether had been called "Transylvania's Versailles". The theme, together with the charm of the castle which is being restored attracted an audience of more than 1500 viewers. The chairs which had been brought by the organizers were full, some brought blankets along and the screen projected on the eerie façade without windows of the castle.

The host of the opening was Hegedus Csilla, the executive manager of the Transilvania Trust Foundation, which undertakes the reconstruction works. She got a promise from the director of the TIFF, Tudor Giurgiu, that the castle is not going to host only screenings, but that it may also be used as a shooting location. The obtained promise touched her to such extent, that she forgot to utter foreword of the minister of Culture, Kelemen Hunor.

The film, a masterpiece of its time, was directed by Carmino Gallone and produced at the Italian Studios Cinecitta. In 1942, it was awarded the Great Prize of the Film Festival in Venice. Its discovery in the Italian archives is a recovery of a piece of Romanian history. Maria Teodorescu, the main character, is a reputed soprano from Basarabia - Maria Cebotari, who plays a remarkable role and illustrates thus the drama of the Romanians under Soviet occupation. Some hidden irony makes her husband an adulterous man, but is given to the end the chance to redeem himself.

If one can ignore the clichés of a propaganda film, which was supported by the corresponding ministry, and manages to look upon it as a recovery of the history of the cinema, to which adds a fairy-tale setting, the film "Odessa in Flames" is truly a noteworthy cinema experience.

Gabriela Popa
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