This film was made in 1995 five years after Romania got rid of the Communist rule, and almost 14 years ago, but it already bears a very pessimistic view of the transition process that Romania underwent after the fall of the Communism. From the point of view of the national mood it could be made today as well. A corrupt senator visits a remote mountain area to inaugurate a wind power station. Much happens as during the Communist rule - demagogic speeches, fake folklore music, the bosses get a good time eating, drinking, womanizing while the simple people cope as they can and engage into mean conflicts. All with the language that in Romanian literature descends from the great writer and playwright Caragiale who satirized the political class at the turn of the 20th century.
Things go wrong and comedy turns into tragedy for the simple people, while the riches continue with their seemingly endless party. The problem of the film is showing the two worlds in a too much schematic manner. Director Daneliuc seems to hate so much the characters that he describes that the best he can do is to laugh at them and deprive them of all humanity. It's a pity as actors like Dorel Visan who has the lead role could have certainly delivered a more nuanced view of such a character as senator Virtosu. A mystical sense of fatality that envelops the lead feminine character does not help either. 'Senatorul melcilor' catches well the moment but cannot turn it into good cinema.
Things go wrong and comedy turns into tragedy for the simple people, while the riches continue with their seemingly endless party. The problem of the film is showing the two worlds in a too much schematic manner. Director Daneliuc seems to hate so much the characters that he describes that the best he can do is to laugh at them and deprive them of all humanity. It's a pity as actors like Dorel Visan who has the lead role could have certainly delivered a more nuanced view of such a character as senator Virtosu. A mystical sense of fatality that envelops the lead feminine character does not help either. 'Senatorul melcilor' catches well the moment but cannot turn it into good cinema.