Best movie of this year hands down!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

From my favorite movies..

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The great Depardieu in a simple parable. It may not be earth-shattering but it is affecting and Depardieu is touching as the village idiot. I had to re-assess it after learning of the cast's dissatisfaction with the changes made afterwards, especially the ending. I was expecting a different ending and the original one was necessary to make the parable complete.

Full of historical errors (they use Cluj's post-communist flag during WW2?) and lacking any of the psychological and dramatic depth of the 1972 version, this film, albeit well shot and edited, is an unnecessary re-adaptation of Popovici's text. Without firm direction and tight script, the only acting to be somewhat appraised, belongs to Mr. Harvey Keitel. Mr. Depardieu only manages to aimlessly wander through his lines, and the changed ending (as by the producers' wishes) just steals what little enjoyment was left in this venture. An interesting take though is to replace the original Romanian pope to a Transylvanian Saxon minister, thus enabling even more historical debate over the subject.