Synopsis
A small world of bourgeois intrigues and frivolities lived with intensity by its own protagonists: Pampon’s lover, Didina is in love with the barber Nae, who is Mitza’s lover, while she is Cracanel’s lover. One letter starts the ball rolling and ugly characters start revealing themselves in a burlesque-like fashion.
Directed by: Lucian Pintilie
Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Mariana Mihut, Petrica Gheorghiu, Tora Vasilescu, Gheorghe Dinica, Mircea Diaconu, Stefan Iordache
Script: Lucian Pintilie, Ion Luca Caragiale (Piesa de teatru D’ale carnavalului)
Producers: Titi Popescu, Bujor T. Rîpeanu
Cinematography by: Florin Mihăilescu
Edited by: Eugenia Naghi
Sound: Andrei Papp
Music: Dorin Liviu Zaharia
Year: 1981
Category: feature film
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 119 minutes
60,193 – Cinepub viewers
PLOT SUMMARY
Banned for ten years, the film is based on I.L. Caragiale’s play “De-ale Carnavalului” and explores the universe of petty bourgeois, a world of concreteness and color, plagued by trivialities and romantic adventures, a world of dubious morality that sincerely and noisily embraces its passions.
A wicked world with foul language and a narrow mind. Didina Mazu, Pampon’s lover, is in love with Nae Girimea, the barber and the neighborhood’s Don Juan. However, Nae is also the lover of Mița Baston, who, in turn, is Crăcănel’s lover. A letter from Mița will spark a scandal…
WHAT CRITICS SAY:
Lucian Pintilie’s film is the most blatant example of censorship in the Ceausescu-era cinematography. While “Reconstituirea” (1970), directed by the same filmmaker, was screened for a few weeks and not officially banned, “De ce trag clopotele, Mitică?” was kept hidden in the drawers of ideological censors until the last moments of the regime.
In a year when “Croaziera” by Mircea Daneliuc, a film with strong anti-system elements, had its premiere, the question that arises is what prompted this radical decision by the authorities to block a production that had cost 10 million lei? Especially since the film seemingly did not raise sensitive political issues, as it was inspired by the writings of the 19th-century Romanian playwright, I.L. Caragiale. – Bogdan Jitea
ARTICLES
- Why was the movie “Why are the bells ringing, Mythical?” banned? The scenes that drove the communists out of their minds VIDEO– Mariana Iancu – 2022 – adevarul.ro
- Why Are the Bells Ringing, Mitica? (director Lucian Pintilie, 1981) – Flavia Bondor – academia.edu
- Why Are the Bells Ringing, Mitica? (1981) – Bogdan JITEA – 2022 – iiccmer.ro
