Communist Romania's answer to a love triangle, but make it irrigation infrastructure.
Fresh out of university, agricultural engineer Voica Teodorescu returns to her native village where she joins a local team of engineers in the planning of a dam and an irrigation mega project.Although Voica is engaged to be married to Ilarie she also is romantically attracted to local engineer Radu. Radu doesn't agree with local boss Vasile Axente's management style and deems Vasile incompetent.Therefore, Radu tries to form an alliance with the village vice-mayor Dumitru Vardaru but when a large sum of money from the public works budget goes missing Radu is investigated by authorities for embezzlement of public funds.His relationship with Voica and the villagers gets sourly tested.
Acting
Tora Vasilescu's restrained longing steals scenes.
Direction
Tatos frames oppression in dusty landscapes.
Writing
Dialogue drips with unspoken Communist-era dread.
Director
Alexandru Tatos
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot during Romania's late Ceaușescu era, the film smuggles criticism of state incompetence past censors through agricultural metaphor. The dam that never gets built became a recognized symbol of communist failed promises.
Amza Pellea, who plays the incompetent boss Axente, was Romania's most beloved comedic actor—casting him as a villain was Tatos's sly joke on audiences who couldn't boo a national treasure.
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