On the 21st of October 1599 in Alba Iulia, Michael The Brave was the first to politically unite the 3 historical provinces of Moldavia, Valachia and Transylvania into what was much later to become the modern Romanian state. The times were not good for such an ambitious dream, with the Ottoman Turks and the Austrian-Hungarian pressure coming from all directions. Michael was killed in his tent by a traitor and the unification dream dissipated in the intrigues of the time.
Here is where the movie begins, a few years after Michael's death, with a group of his loyal soldiers wandering the castles and cities of Mediaeval Europe, with nothing much on them but poverty and rags, but still faithfully carrying a heavy stash and the flag of the Great Union. Their sole purpose: to return to their country and with the riches in the stash to build up a new army in order to accomplish Michael's dream.
Unfortunately there had never been a treasure in that stash, but only the group's leader played by Ion Besoiu knows it is filled with rocks. He shares the secret only with Captain Andrei, a former officer of Michael's, because he doesn't want his men to lose hope. They have a lot of adventures on their way home, and at a moment they are captured by their long time enemy Selim Pasha, who wants to take their treasure. (In my humble opinion, this is one of the best scenes in the movies, the 13 heroes are buried in sand up to their necks and horses are herded over them, as a means of torture.) However they escape and they get home. But their leader hangs himself ashamed and not knowing how to confess his soldiers the secret of the stash. Captain Andrei tells them the truth and inflames them once more by planning to put the Union Flag up on one of Michael's former castles, as a symbol for freedom and better times. They faithfully stick together and die together, besieged by Turks and Romanian traitor troops allied with Selim Pasha.
Sergiu Nicolaescu is as usual a flamboyant type of hero;Amza Pellea - fascinating humor; Ilarion Ciobanu impresses through his massive stature and honest look, and Colea Rautu as always, the villain enemy prototype.
But I think most of the people who have seen the movie will agree with me on that the best thing at this movie is the soundtrack, performed by the legendary folk rock band Phoenix. True traditional rhythms are transposed in modern shape in songs which enchanted generations and generations and which still buy all the tickets when the Phoenix have a concert.
7 out of 10 mainly because of Amza Pellea and the music.
******** Sergiu Nicolaescu allegedly said: "Even since l971 I had this idea of a group of "13 immortals", who appeared in history whenever they were needed, showing that courage and readiness of sacrifice which could have served as an example to the masses. 25 years later someone in France took over my idea by making the movies with Cristopher Lambert. In my "Immortals" you can notice the last image in the movie, that place in the fortress of Rasnov where standing near their own graves are the the 13 warriors. Unfortunately the censorship of the time did not like the idea, fearing that other heroes could appear besides Ceausescu. I had started the movie in an original directing approach which unfortunately I had to give up because of the panic who got into the movie's cutting editor. Too bad, it was a new thing which hasn't been yet accomplished by anyone."
Here is where the movie begins, a few years after Michael's death, with a group of his loyal soldiers wandering the castles and cities of Mediaeval Europe, with nothing much on them but poverty and rags, but still faithfully carrying a heavy stash and the flag of the Great Union. Their sole purpose: to return to their country and with the riches in the stash to build up a new army in order to accomplish Michael's dream.
Unfortunately there had never been a treasure in that stash, but only the group's leader played by Ion Besoiu knows it is filled with rocks. He shares the secret only with Captain Andrei, a former officer of Michael's, because he doesn't want his men to lose hope. They have a lot of adventures on their way home, and at a moment they are captured by their long time enemy Selim Pasha, who wants to take their treasure. (In my humble opinion, this is one of the best scenes in the movies, the 13 heroes are buried in sand up to their necks and horses are herded over them, as a means of torture.) However they escape and they get home. But their leader hangs himself ashamed and not knowing how to confess his soldiers the secret of the stash. Captain Andrei tells them the truth and inflames them once more by planning to put the Union Flag up on one of Michael's former castles, as a symbol for freedom and better times. They faithfully stick together and die together, besieged by Turks and Romanian traitor troops allied with Selim Pasha.
Sergiu Nicolaescu is as usual a flamboyant type of hero;Amza Pellea - fascinating humor; Ilarion Ciobanu impresses through his massive stature and honest look, and Colea Rautu as always, the villain enemy prototype.
But I think most of the people who have seen the movie will agree with me on that the best thing at this movie is the soundtrack, performed by the legendary folk rock band Phoenix. True traditional rhythms are transposed in modern shape in songs which enchanted generations and generations and which still buy all the tickets when the Phoenix have a concert.
7 out of 10 mainly because of Amza Pellea and the music.
******** Sergiu Nicolaescu allegedly said: "Even since l971 I had this idea of a group of "13 immortals", who appeared in history whenever they were needed, showing that courage and readiness of sacrifice which could have served as an example to the masses. 25 years later someone in France took over my idea by making the movies with Cristopher Lambert. In my "Immortals" you can notice the last image in the movie, that place in the fortress of Rasnov where standing near their own graves are the the 13 warriors. Unfortunately the censorship of the time did not like the idea, fearing that other heroes could appear besides Ceausescu. I had started the movie in an original directing approach which unfortunately I had to give up because of the panic who got into the movie's cutting editor. Too bad, it was a new thing which hasn't been yet accomplished by anyone."
