Balanta (1992)
5KBalanta (1992). 1h 45m
“Actually the Romanian title of the movie would be u0026quot;Balanceu0026quot; or u0026quot;Scalesu0026quot; or u0026quot;Steel Yardu0026quot;, pick the word most appropriate to your liking for the weight measuring gadget. The international titles (The Oak, la Chene) are linked to the last scene of the movie that metaphorically wraps up significations. The main characters have found the long sought, yet not traceable balance, equilibrium.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhy did I say that it depicts humiliation of intelligence and culture? In communist Romania people that graduated university or college were repartitioned to a job matching their studies. Only the luckiest got a repartition in a large city. Others were summoned for life in hamlets, as you could not promote or change your repartition unless joining the Party. Thatu0026#39;s the case with the leading character (Maia Morgenstern) that graduated Psichology in Paris, and was repartitioned in Copsa Mica, the most polluted city in Romania.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe caravan of insults starts with the train journey to her new work place. She is forced to switch trains in the night, take her clothes off in the presence of strangers, and ride 400 km standing in an overcrowded train. As she reaches Copsa Mica some people try to rape her, police torture and threaten her, and so on.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo certify the adage that special people congregate the Psichology graduate meets a funky doctor, that manages to elude the system by being some kind of a joker. Then the rejoicing begins as these 2 people get to know each other.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhen they decide under the oak tree to give birth to a child she says: u0026quot;I pray he wonu0026#39;t be normalu0026quot; and he responds u0026quot;If heu0026#39;ll be normal Iu0026#39;ll kill him with my own hands.u0026quot; For these two people being u0026quot;normalu0026quot; meant the supreme course. Everybody around was dull, normal and communist. Enjoy!”
