A CREW FOR SINGAPORE (1982) – drama film online

Directed by: Nicu Stan
Script: Ioan Grigorescu, Nicu Stan
Cast: Gheorghe Cozorici, Florin Zamfirescu, Mariana Mihuț, Victor Rebengiuc, Gheorghe Visu, Ștefan Sileanu, Radu Panamarenco, Jean Constantin, Ion Besoiu, Dumitru Palade, Radu Gheorghe, Iancu Lucian, Paul Avram, Emil Bîrlădeanu
Producer: Sideriu Aurian, Emanuel Chivici
Cinematography by: Marian Stanciu
Edited by: Maria Neagu
Sound: Horea Murgu
Music: Vasile Șirli
Year: 1982
Category: Feature film
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Duration: 95 minutes

98,453 – Cinepub viewers

PLOT SUMMARY

A ship captain loses his vessel and almost his entire crew in a shipwreck in the Caribbean. Back home, he is plagued by remorse and nightmares about what happened. He is given command of a merchant ship bound for Singapore, but on his new vessel he is treated with suspicion and hostility. Eventually, weathering a storm and resolving problems that could have had a dramatic ending helps him win the trust of his subordinates.

AWARDS

• 1982 – ACIN – Music Award (Vasile Şirli)
• 1982 – Cartagena – Grand Prize “Carabella de plata” and Award for Best Director

CRITICAL REVIEWS:

“Nicu Stan does not take risks, but draws precise marine trajectories and, for fear of taking risks (this is, unfortunately, the price of a “mature” debut), he makes an unequivocal artistic choice: he sacrifices linguistic innovation in favor of dramaturgy, in other words, he conceives a “classic” film with the declared intention of pleasing the general public. (…) Nicu Stan’s transition to directing is clear, decisive, almost ostentatious. The creator’s attention is effectively focused on the action and the actor. In particular, on the actor. Portraits and relationships between people.” – Constantin Pivniceru, Cinema magazine no. 5, May 1982

“In the foreground is the ship’s captain, Gheorghe Cozorici. With the help of this great actor, you get the impression that the director is creating a virtual mirror image, a self-portrait. You sense warmth, gentleness, paternalism, and a tendency toward authoritarianism in this character, an irritation hidden in the shadow of a smile, a gesture, and an attitude. Beyond him, the crew and the sea, a strange mixture of people and elements of nature. Which he faces. Which he conquers through strength and personal example.” – Constantin Pivniceru, Cinema magazine no. 5, May 1982

“A special directorial debut in the early 1980s was that of cinematographer Nicu Stan, with the film “A Crew for Singapore” (May 1982), a first collaboration between the new director and writer-screenwriter Ioan Grigorescu, a collaboration that would continue with a sensitive film such as “I Want to Know Why I Have Wings” (March 1984), the story of a family on the verge of collapse, with a long-haul aviator (Ovidiu Iuliu Moldovan), a woman tired of life (Valeria Seciu) and a 12-year-old boy at the age of fundamental questions (Cosmin Şofron, with a background in cinema, he was the boy who poured sugar into the engine of the Germans’ motorcycle in the TV series “Lights and Shadows”). – Călin Căliman, History of Romanian Film

“The song ‘Rug’ captures the essence of creativity and daring combined with elegance and spectacle. The track is the main theme of a film that could have been great. Another reason is the musical theme of tension, which can be heard, for example, in the sequence where they pass through the fog. Syncopated, alert, almost panicked, the music induces exactly the state of feverish anticipation that was intended. Finally, there is another theme, composed in both an alert version (when crossing the Suez Canal, for example) and a slow version. The latter can be heard in the sequence of the final confrontation between the ship’s captain, played by Gheorghe Cozorici, and his first mate, played by Florin Zamfirescu. The melodic line of the saxophone blends with the electric guitar chords and the all-enveloping synthesizer to generate a melancholic and refined musicality, in contrast to the pop premises from which it starts, meant to remain in the soul of the listener.” – Horațiu Damian, istoriafilmului.ro

“Even though I find this kind of commentary incredibly boring, the truth is that this is the first time a film made before 1989 has given me the impression that it is a direct allegory of Ceaușescu. The allegory is in no way subversive; on the contrary, it is rather obvious. It is worth mentioning, however, that the sense of failure that haunts Captain Ionescu is a fundamentally captivating trait, which Cozorici’s character seems to seek out pathologically at times—something that is nowhere to be found in Nicolaescu’s films.” – Emil Vasilache, cinepub.ro

TRIVIA:

• Nicu Stan, the film’s director, was a camera operator at the base, highly regarded at Buftea Studios, the cameraman with the “million-dollar eye.” “A Crew for Singapore” is his mature debut in feature films.
• He was born on November 25, 1931, in Constanța. He graduated from the “I.L. Caragiale” Institute of Theater and Cinematographic Art in Bucharest in 1955, specializing in camera work.
• The collaboration between Nicu Stan and screenwriter Ioan Grigorescu continued, and they made a second film together in 1984, “Vreau să știu de ce am aripi” (I Want to Know Why I Have Wings), the story of a family falling apart.
• After the two productions written alongside Ioan Grigorescu, Nicu Stan made only two more films: “Furtună în Pacific” (Storm in the Pacific, 1986) and “Cale liberă” (Free Way, 1987).
• The film was seen by 2,097,776 viewers in Romanian cinemas, according to data on the number of viewers recorded for Romanian films from the date of release until December 31, 2014, compiled by the National Center for Cinematography.
• The song “Rug,” composed by Vasile Şirli, with lyrics by Anca Argeşiu and performed by Dida Drăgan, is the main soundtrack of the film. The song has become a cult classic for the underground fan community.

LINES:

• “Anca, do you think I’m crazy?” – Captain Victor Ionescu (Ghoerghe Cozorici)
• “Why is it that only when you’re with me can no one reproach you for staying alive? Live, for God’s sake! (…) You’re innocent.” – Anca Ionescu (Mariana Mihuț)
• “You’re beautiful, Anca. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world.” – Captain Victor Ionescu (Ghoerghe Cozorici)
• “Everyone runs away from me as if I were a leper. And I can’t forget them. I can’t get them out of the bottom of the ocean!” – Captain Victor Ionescu (Ghoerghe Cozorici)
• “All hands on deck and raise the anchor!” – Grigore Olteanu (Victor Rebengiuc)
• “You deserve a lesson, not so much for your insolence as for your indiscipline.” – Captain Victor Ionescu (Ghoerghe Cozorici)
• “Order means order, and discipline must mean discipline.” – Captain Victor Ionescu (Ghoerghe Cozorici)
• “The boss has given orders to remove all nudity from the cabins. Down with the beautiful sex!” – Sailor Cucu (Jean Constantin)

ARTICLES:

• A Crew for Singapore. Film review – aarc.ro
• A Crew for Singapore – istoriafilmuluiromanesc.ro
• A Crew for Singapore. A film about second chances and a superb song performed by Dida Drăgan coliviacupapagsli.wordpress.com
• Other debuts from the 1980s – istoriafilmuluiromanesc.ro

This premiere is part of a national archive project supported by the Romanian National Film Centre.
Special thanks goes to the Romanian Filmmakers Union and to the Romanian Film Archive.

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