"The Immortals" is one of the most interesting Romanian historical films from the '70s, successfully combining epic action with a surprisingly modern atmosphere and an exceptional soundtrack.
Director Sergiu Nicolaescu presents a brutal and realistic story about Romanian resistance against medieval Ottoman invasions. The heroes aren't idealized noble knights, but rough fighters - outlaws, shepherds, warriors - who survive through guerrilla tactics in the mountains.
The cinematography captures the wild beauty of the Carpathians, and the battle scenes have a rare authenticity for that era. Yes, it has the limitations of a 1970s Eastern European production - some theatrical moments, inevitable propaganda elements for the communist period - but beyond these, you'll find a film surprisingly raw and honest for its time.
What makes "The Immortals" special is that it approaches history like a western - not as a textbook lesson, but as a story about imperfect people in violent times. It's a film about survival, about the price of freedom, about the moral ambiguity of war.
This is where the film becomes truly memorable. The soundtrack composed by Phoenix - Romania's most legendary progressive rock band - is extraordinary. The track "Strunga" (The Sheepfold) alone is worth watching the film for.
Phoenix combines traditional Romanian instruments (pan pipes, flutes, ancient musical modes) with Hammond organ, electric guitars, and complex prog-rock structures. The result is something unique: deeply Romanian music that's also universally accessible, sounding as fresh today as it did in 1975.
Under communist censorship, Phoenix managed to create authentic art using folklore as cover. Their music doesn't just accompany the film - it transforms it, giving it an epic, almost mythological dimension. When "Strunga" accompanies the mountain scenes, the experience becomes transcendent.
WHY WATCH IT:
For one of the best soundtracks in Romanian cinema
If you enjoy historical films with a realistic, not glorified approach
If you want to discover or rediscover Phoenix in all their glory
For superb cinematography of mountain landscapes
If you appreciate films that combine action with artistic substance
"The Immortals" isn't perfect - the pacing drags at times, some performances are exaggerated in theatrical style. But it offers something rare: an authentic, brutal Romanian historical film with the most spectacular prog-rock soundtrack a medieval film could have.
Phoenix alone justifies watching, but the film itself is much better than many remember. It's a Carpathian western before the term existed, a film about outlaws that resembles "The Wild Bunch" more than decorative historical productions.
The combination of Nicolaescu's gritty direction, the stunning mountain locations, and Phoenix's groundbreaking music creates something greater than the sum of its parts. It's a time capsule of what Romanian cinema could achieve when talent met artistic ambition, even under the constraints of the communist regime.
Recommended for: Historical film lovers, Phoenix fans, progressive rock enthusiasts, cinephiles who appreciate '70s cinematography, anyone wanting to see what communist Romania could produce when talent met artistic ambition.
Fun fact: The film was a massive box-office success in Romania and contributed enormously to Phoenix's popularity, cementing their status as legends of Romanian rock.
