Synopsis
The eruption of an oil well is much needed for the survival of the workers and their families living nearby.
Directed by: Liviu Ciulei
Script: Petre Luscalov
Cast: Eva Cristian, Lucia Mara Dabija, Jean Bart, Dorin Dron, Benedict Dabija, Manole Teodorescu, Ştefan Ciobotăraşu, Costel Constantinescu, Graziela Albini, Lazăr Vrabie, Nicolae Șubă, Lica Gheorghiu
Producers: Mircea Bodianu
Cinematography by: Grigore Ionescu
Edited by: Yolanda Mîntulescu
Sound: Oscar Coman
Music: Theodor Grigoriu, Iancy Körössy
Year: 1957
Category: feature film
Genre: Drama
Duration: 98 minutes
22,389 – Cinepub viewers
PLOT SUMMARY
It was a desolate place, torrid, filled with abandoned oil wells, entirely covered in dust and melted by the heat. The people living there spoke little. Most had already left the inhospitable place, abandoning the small settlement that just months earlier had been bursting with life.
A handful of enthusiastic workers, led by Barcu, an energetic engineer, still remained, drilling desperately in search of oil, the oil that would breathe new life into the entire region and reignite the spark of happiness in the abandoned homes.
Things change when a young student comes from Bucharest for an internship. She is drawn to the energy of the young engineer, but her presence will ignite passions in the hearts of the other oil workers as well…
CRITICAL OPINIONS
“… a strong penchant for plein-air. The space is invested with a dramatic function; far from being a mere backdrop, the landscape acts as a veritable character in the unfolding of collective drama and individual stories.” – George Littera – 1989 (The Century of Cinema)
Beneath the appearance of romantic intrigues, the film brings up hot issues, such as entering and leaving prison and the rescue of former inmates (common law) on the homeland’s construction sites, or especially those related to finding and exploiting oil, the “black gold.” – Rodica Pop Vulcănescu
TRIVIA
- The film directorial debut of actor, set designer, and theater director Liviu Ciulei.
- The acting debut of Lazăr Vrabie, Dorin Dron, Lucia Mara, and Eva Christian.
- It’s the first film in which Lica Gheorghiu appears as an actress (credited as Lica Popescu), the daughter of communist leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej.
- It marks the first use of the natural setting from the Mud Volcanoes in Berca.
- Editor Yolanda Mîntulescu is credited as Yolanda Mitache.
ARTICLES
- Eruption (1957) – istoriafilmuluiromanesc.ro
- “Eruption” – film chronicle – Rodica Pop-Vulcănescu – 2014 – aarc.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.
