At an old age, prince Andrei Morudzi retreats to his castle in Romania, during the two world wars, after having lead an eventful youth. There he is seen upon as a rare bird by the local folk, due to his strange attitude towards life and his exquisit manners, which don't fit in the way of life of the villagers. But, in the end, despite trying to distance himself from the local people, he can't but influence their humble existences.
Acting
Nicolaescu directing himself as a cantankerous aristocrat—vanity or vision?
Production
Crumbling castle as character: Romania's fading interwar glamour.
Director
Sergiu Nicolaescu
Sergiu Nicolaescu
Andrei Morudzi
Gheorghe Dinică
Costache
Dan Bittman
Young Andrei Morudzi
Maia Morgenstern
Amalia Frunzetti
Daniela Nane
Carmen Ionescu
Marina Procopie
Elena Criveanu
Cristian Șofron
Priest Anton
Valentin Teodosiu
Vasile Gardescu
Florin Zamfirescu
Take Criveanu
Alina Chivulescu
Adrienne de Raval
Vlad Zamfirescu
Ana's fiancee
Dan Puric
Orlofski
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Nicolaescu was Romania's most prolific director-actor, essentially their Clint Eastwood with worse weather. This late-career turn to chamber drama shocked fans used to his historical epics.
The castle location was a real decaying aristocratic estate in Prahova County—no set dressing required for the rot.
RO
