Enescu, Skinned Alive

Exceptional! I'm not sure if I dare make such a comparison, but it felt to me very much like Enescu's Oedipe-birth, rise, deception in place of triumph, downfall, and death. Sublime! It tells the story of Enescu's life, portraying him not just as a genius, but as a man-with all his struggles and depth-framing his tumultuous relationship with Maruca within the arc of his career. I learned so much about Enescu's life, and I really appreciate the message it conveys: to cherish our cultural values, not just by remembering great names from the past, but by truly understanding their journey, their sacrifices, and the legacy they left behind. It's a powerful reminder of how important it is to honor and preserve the richness of our heritage. I'm truly glad Romanian films are being made on such meaningful themes.

I saw this movie in a glamorous setting, at the Romanian Atheneum and I could tell from the get go that this was going to be bad. We've had a 40 mins introduction by a guy in a bow tie who asked the public for applause for like 7 or 8 times, for the brilliant acting, directing, screenwriting and so on and so forth. Everything needed to be applauded - at one point I thought we're going to honor the fact that we are still alive through this painful intro with a round of clapping.

The movie is atrocious: there is no narrative line, the characters lack any depth, the dialogue is grotesquely cliche, filled with pompous phares that have no meaning. We got out after 20 mins of projection. What a waste of time and money!

This film is a disgrace. A grim, disconnected mess that claims to be about George Enescu, yet does everything possible to strip him of his brilliance, dignity, and relevance. The actors deliver wooden, lifeless performances - often mumbling their lines to the point where entire scenes become unintelligible. The transitions between scenes are abrupt and nonsensical, like a bad fever dream stitched together without care or narrative logic.

Instead of exploring the genius of Enescu - his childhood talent, his connection with God and Romania, his obsession with music and family, his artistic madness while composing Oedipe for 20 years (nothing is said about how Enescu gave Oedipe a different ending, a new philosophical alure - unlike the ancient tragedies, he offered transcendence, not ruin), more thoughts he expose in his connection with journalist Bernard Gavoty, - we get a grotesque focus on misery, scandal, and nudity. The film centers more on Maruca Cantacuzino and her affairs, thoughts from her journal than on the music or Enescu himself. No inspiration, no passion, no truth - just a slow, sinister mockery. A terrible and broken image of a man who deserved reverence, not ridicule.

What's even more astonishing is that this film was presented abroad and toured through Romania as if it were some kind of national statement. But this film doesn't celebrate Enescu - it desecrates his legacy. There is absolutely no justification for taking this grotesque version of a national treasure and parading it on international stages.

This could have been a tribute to a titan of music. Instead, it's a tone-deaf, shallow, and frankly insulting portrayal. A total failure made by Toma Enache.

A mockery dressed up as cinema. Shallow, cruel, and unforgivable.

The director of movie brilliantly illustrates the love story between George Enescu, a huge composer of last century, and controversial and passionate princess, Maruca Cantacuzino ,born in Romania .The kindness of this great composer and his emotional state increase the princess confidence that they pass together with "magna cum laude" over love pressures and their efforts will eventually turn into achievements, scattered on their life as well precious ring mount of diamond . Enescu seems to be like a fisherman in the boat who paddles up on the smooth or rough sea. It says that a big slice of "success cake"" of love is on each plate of partners, although. The main characters perform into glamorous ways, all the loose ends are finally tie up in their love.

I had the chance to see this movie in two different festivals that I attended, in Monacco and Los Angeles, and I'm in awe of the creative team that made it. No wonder it won so many awards. I did not know who Enescu was, but I was completely captivated by the story. Such a great way to discover brilliant musicians and inspiring love stories! The actors are well picked, costumes are great and the music is simply amazing. Behind all this can be nothing but a great director. I highly recommend this skillfully crafted movie to all film and classical music lovers. In a world full of noise and violence, it is comforting to find films as beautiful and moving as this one.