Launched in the autumn of last year and directed by Toma Enache, “Enescu, skinny”, the first film about the great Romanian composer, has already attracted tens of thousands of spectators in the cinemas in Romania and won several dozen prizes at the International Festivals on globe.
Director Toma Enache on photo shoot Mihail Oprescu
During the film, the story of love so special and jumped between George Enescu and Princess Maria Cantacuzino is superbly and built. And the protagonists, the actors Mircea Dragoman and Theodora Sandu, were highly appreciated for their interpretations.
“I, when I love something, is engraved here … I want to say for life, here … in the heart!”, Said George Enescu, a reply that appears in the film and who is lived and felt.
Through “Enescu, skinny”, Toma Enache managed to make a special film about love, passion, sensitivity, perseverance, dedication and success. It is a film that brings the public closer to the special soul of George Enescu, 70 years since the great artist left beyond the stars.
The film benefits from a remarkable distribution, with Mircea Dragoman in the role of George Enescu and Theodora Sandu in the role of Princess Maruca, along with well -known actors such as Cezara Dafinescu, Manuela Hărăbor, Adrian Titieni, Cristian Sofron, Kira Hagi, Pavel Ulici, Filip Ristovski, Erica Moldovan, Codrin Dănilă and the late Constantin Codrescu. The costumes are created by the Italian Stefano Nicolao, famous for his work for Oscar award-winning productions, and the music brings together works of George Enescu and original compositions signed by Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi, designated “composer of the year 2022” at the International Classical Music Awards.
The soundtrack is interpreted by the National Orchestra of France, under the baton of the master Cristian Măcelaru, artistic director of the George Enescu Festival and by the National Radio Orchestra in Romania, led by the master Horia Andreescu. Also, violinist Alexandru Tomescu adds a distinct note to this sound production. The soundtrack also includes an original musical fragment, played by George Enescu in the violin and Dinu Lipatti at the piano.
In an interview with “Adevărul”, director Toma Enache spoke about the process of making the film, but also about the reasons why he chose to propose a completely unexpected perspective, based on the diary of Marucă Cantacuzino, as well as on archive documents. precious.
“Enescu, skinned alive ”is the first film ever made about the great George Enescu. How was the idea of this special film born?
A few years ago, passing by the house of Enescu from Liveni, I decided to return from the road and visit it, after postponing this, for lack of time. I had traveled that road many times, in my pilgrimages through the country with plays or the previous film and every time I was in a hurry to get to the destination, promising myself that I would stop next time. But that day, I had that feeling ‘now or never’ and I returned from the road. The memorial house was actually closed, but inside it was a lady who opened me and had the kindness to tell me, for almost an hour, all she knew about Enescu. He spoke warmly, affectionately, like someone very close and impressed me deeply. Fascinated by Enescu’s personality, I started a thorough research, reading everything I found about the composer. He had a fascinating, happy and sad life, which I wanted to make known to the public through a movie. Many people do not understand how it is possible for a genius of Enescu’s waist doubled and an extraordinary life story does not have an artistic film. Each project that I initiate must be a deep and significant journey, for both myself and the spectator.
How difficult was the road from the idea to the finished product?
The road from the idea to the movie lasted about two years. After an intense period of documentation, in which I studied everything I found about Enescu, wishing to understand not only his musical work but also the less well -known aspects of his personal life and of the historical context in which he lived, followed the writing. It was a complex stage, because I wanted to render as well as both Enescu’s musical genius, and especially his human side. The main challenge was to balance the dramatic elements and keep the authenticity of each moment played on the screen. I chose to play only a certain period of his life, which I considered the most relevant.
Logistics and financial challenges followed, which are inherent in the making of any major film. The choice of locations, team and actors, as well as budget management, were aspects that required a lot of work, careful planning and flexibility. Making a vintage movie today is a pure madness. Everything is a thousand times more complicated than in the case of a contemporary themed movie. We had an extraordinary team, sponsors and partners who were with us. Although it was hard, together we managed to make a movie that, I say without modesty, I am extremely proud.
“George Enescu’s kindness struck a lot”
When did you feel that making a movie about Enescu is more than an idea, that it is a duty?
When I realized that absolutely all the countries in this world have films about their greatest personalities, those with whom they are proud of the whole world, whether we are talking about writers, painters, actors or political figures. Van Gogh, Beethoven, Virginia Woolf, Lincoln or Churchill, are just a few examples of such exceptional people. There are extraordinary films about them. George Enescu is a worldwide personality, with a huge impact on universal classical music, just as it is Brâncuși in sculpture. After reading everything I could about Enescu and I fully understood, I felt that I had this debt, to make a movie about him.
What detail about George Enescu’s life will break the most?
His goodness, which had become proverbial at the time, seems to me his highest quality, beyond the musical genius. There is no book about George Enescu in which to talk about how generous and good everyone was, how altruistic. Not for nothing, one of the world’s greatest violinists, Yehudi Menuhin, the disciple of the Romanian composer, said that “Enescu will always remain as one of the miracles of the world.” Here, not only his music, but also his kindness became Enescu’s emblem and his legacy.
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Theodora Sandu in the role of Princess Maruca Cantacuzino Photo Facebook JPG
What did you do in the film dedicated to George Enescu to propose a completely unexpected perspective, based on the journal Marucăi Cantacuzino, on precious, unique archive documents, which have never been revealed to the general public?
I felt that these precious sources put in a new perspective the relations, experiences and thoughts of Enescu, bringing a more personal and human dimension to his story. The discovery of these documents offered me a unique opportunity to create a narrative that is based on reality and at the same time emotional, giving the public a deep and authentic perspective on the life of this great composer. I wanted to tell the public a story that would not be only about Enescu’s music, but also about the man behind his creations, about his inner struggles, joys and struggles. I believe that these personal aspects are essential to really understand the greatness and complexity of Enescu.
“The deep love and loyalty between Enescu and Maruca Cantacuzino shows the extraordinary dimension of their love”
What detail in the fabulous love story between Enescu and Maria Cantacuzino produced the most special emotions?
The way Enescu remained with Maria in the most difficult times of her life. For example, after she suffered a nervous, self-help fall and was admitted to a sanatorium, Enescu was there to support her and offered her all the affection and support. This deep love and loyalty shows the extraordinary dimension of their love.
Mircea Dragoman and Theodora Sandu have two memorable scores in the roles of George Enescu and Maria Cantacuzino respectively. How did you discover the two actors and how did they convince you?
I chose following a specially organized casting for the two main roles in the film. Of over 500 actresses registered, in the final phase there were 10 and for the last test 4. It was to be Theodora Sandu and Mircea Dragoman, both at the film on a lead role. Clearly I chose well, both being awarded at international festivals for the interpreted roles, both being loved by the public for the quality and authenticity of the interpretation.
What scene in the movie was the most difficult to shoot?
I think the scene that plays the crucial meeting between George Enescu and Maruca Cantacuzino. This scene is essential to capture the complexity of their relationship, and the challenge was to render the emotional authenticity and the intensity of the moment without falling into melodrama. Filmed in a
Historical location, the scene required special attention to detail to recreate the atmosphere of that period. It was important to capture the chemistry and the dynamics between the actors, so that we could transpose the depth and shades of the relationship between the two. It took many doubles and adjustments to reach the desired effect, but the effort was fully worth it.
If you were to summarize Enescu’s life in a phrase, which one would be that phrase?
“Perfection, which is so passionate about people, is not interested. What matters in art is to vibrate yourself and make others vibrate,” said George Enescu.
I strongly believe that I vibrated deeply by working on this film about his life and I believe, seeing the public reaction, that I made many others vibrate in the cinema.
When did you feel the most vibration with Enescu’s work and life during the filming?
At times when I recreated the scenes that reflected his deep connection with the music. An example is the scene in which Enescu composes on the piano, immersed in his own creation, with musical notes that seem to come to life around him. In those moments, the emotion on the plateau became almost tangible, and the filming team, the actors and all those involved felt this energy.
What was the most special reaction you received from those who saw the movie?
There were so many reactions that surprised me and excited me, that it would be impossible to choose a particular one. Teachers, people from various fields, told me so many beautiful words about the movie … I can’t tell you, and not because they didn’t make me feel great, but because it might seem exaggerated praise, as I think that actually and I am.
Instead, I can tell you that I was deeply moved by a dedication of Master Cristian Măcelaru, written on a CD with Enescu’s music, which he offered me: ‘to artist Toma Enache who made for Enescu more than all of us at a place. ‘ These words from one of the world’s greatest conductors, an exceptional man, who has done so many for Enescu – more important things than I could ever do – they were deeply excited. In case you do not know, Master Măcelaru works on the registration of Enescu’s full work with Deutsche Grammophon and is the artistic director of the Enescu Festival. He supported me to make the soundtrack and I am deeply grateful for it. It was one of the wonderful meetings that this film gave. How can I not be happy?
