Synopsis
“A group of the Pașoptist ‘Fraternity’ takes over a treasure belonging to Tudor from Vladimiri in order to exchange it for weapons in Brașov, in the fight against the Arnauts and their own temptations. Feared by many, Mărgelatu aids the resistance in the struggle against the state authorities.”
Directed by: Doru Năstase
Script: Eugen Barbu, N. Paul Mihail
Cast: Florin Piersic, Marga Barbu, Ion Marinescu, Iurie Darie, Remus Mărgineanu, Ernest Maftei, Toma Dimitriu, Petrică Gheorghiu, Adrian Stefanescu, Ion Besoiu, Constantin Dinulescu
Producers: Lidia Popita
Cinematography by: Vivi Drăgan Vasile
Edited by: Anca Dobrescu
Sound: Silviu Camil
Muzică: George Grigoriu
Year: 1980
Category: feature film
Genre: Action
Duration: 115 minutes
0 – Cinepub viewers
PLOT SUMMARY
A group of revolutionaries clandestinely take possession of a treasure bestowed upon them by its owner to be transformed into weapons for the revolution. The heroes traverse the country pursued by a numerous posse. The fight is uneven, but the revolutionaries always emerge victorious.
A mysterious character, Mărgelatu (Florin Piersic), joins the conspirators and aids them in various encounters with the posse. In the end, he succeeds in saving the treasure and delivers it to its destination.
CRITICAL REVIEW
“Reconstruction of Romanian society in the mid-19th century, with a strong scent of spaghetti western. The most dynamic episode in the series written by Eugen Barbu, in collaboration with N. Paul Mihail (continued with ‘The Yellow Rose,’ ‘The Mysteries of Bucharest,’ ‘The Turquoise Necklace,’ and ‘Everything Comes with a Price’), in which Mărgelatu makes his debut, an enigmatic character, a ‘knight of fortune’ from nowhere, half outlaw, half professional revolutionary…” (Tudor Caranfil)
“An experienced team in films about outlaws (screenwriter Eugen Barbu, actors Florin Piersic, Marga Barbu, and Ion Besoiu) and a director specialized in historical films (Doru Năstase) charmingly reconstructed the beginning of the 19th century in Romania and added Mărgelatu’s adventures against the backdrop of the Pașoptist movement. After thrilling adventures, only Mărgelatu reaches the end of the Road of the Bones unscathed, and the nearly six million viewers of this successful film will demand a series that will make Mărgelatu immortal.” (Ion Tutui – ANF)
TRIVIA
- “The adventures of ‘Mărgelatu’ will be continued in ‘The Yellow Rose,’ ‘The Mysteries of Bucharest,’ ‘The Silver Mask,’ ‘The Turquoise Necklace,’ and ‘Everything Comes with a Price.'”
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.
