I have seen this movie several times and each time with delight, though I recognized its flaws in the script and technicalities. But this movie is a must see for every Romanian, due to its great cast and first of all to the lead actor Amza Pellea, one of the best Romanian actors ever. He was equally great in dramas and in comedies, playing heroes from the history, tough dramatic characters, or droll peasants like in this one. The main problem with this film is that it would be hardly understandable for non-Romanian viewers. You have to be familiar with some Romanian realities, especially from the country and the Communist era, and with the formidable TV stand up comedy character ("nea Marin", uncle Marin) around whom the parody plot is built up and who was created by the same Amza Pellea. If one translated the dialogs and dubbed the voice of "nea Marin", all the charm and fun would be gone. And here's a somewhat sentimental component: part of my family originated from the same southern region of Romania, and I laugh each time at the humor and peasant's common sense of that character, very similar to my father's and my uncle's. "Nea Marin" lives!
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Ana_Banana16 October 2005
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When I saw this movie the very 1st time, I was 15 or 16 years old. I absolutely loved it. A lots of very good romanian actors, for that time, were playing in this movie which by the way was directed by one of the best at the time: Sergiu Nicolaescu.
The story line it is very easy to follow: Bad guys kidnap the daughter of Mr. Juvett in Romania, and they are asking for a briefacse full of US Dollars, in exchange. Everything goes as planned until Uncle Marin shows up at the same hotel where Mr. Juvett is. To complicate matter, he has a similar briefcase except his is filled with bread, beacon and green onions. It doesn't take you long to realize what follows: the two identical looking briefcases are switching owners at a very fast rate and at one point even you will loose track whom has the money or whom has the bacon. The same can be said about the carachters since the Mr. Juvett and Uncle Marin are played by the same actor - Amza Pellea.
The bad guys never seem to get the right combination: they demand the money from Uncle Marin who doesn't have a clue about what is going on and that sometimes he has the money without his knowledge - and other times they finally have the right person with the right briefcase - but with the wrong content.
Yes, this is one of those classic "mix-up" that finally clears up at the end of the movie. Lots a laughs, lots a fun.... it is worth watching it. I just wish I could get this movie on DVD or VHS for North American standards
9 out of 10 -
ro_cobra12 September 2003The story is based of a character (very) well know in Romania. Nea (uncle) Marin is a very funny peasant from Olt - county, sometimes smart, sometimes simple-minded but always giving rise to laugh. The movie, the story cannot be seen without knowing Nea Marin as a preliminary. Very interesting is that the character Nea Marin was create by the late actor Amza Pellea, he too born in Olt and a lot of the funny stories which made famous Nea Marin, was write by his performer, so the success of Nea Marin is in fact based by fiction or real happenings from his original place. He also became famous because of a small and funny pun. " Leana a lu' trasnitu' din capul satului", Leana, wife of the cracked from top of village, very close to " Leana a lu' trasnitu' din capul statului" Leana, wife of the cracked from top of state ( sat = village, stat = state) (Nicolae Ceausescu' wife was Elena = Leana).
In this movie, Nea Marin is confused with the american millionaire Juvet. Mr. Juvet's daughter is kidnap, the "bad guys" are tracked bay other team of bad guys, which also kidnap the girl from the first team, Mr. Juvet comes on a neutral zone - Romania - with his briefcase with money, Nea Marin comes too at the same hotel, his nephew gives him a briefcase, identical with Mr. Juvet's and the story goes on with finding and loosing Juvet's money, Nea Marin's leek, Juvet's daughter and everything goes clear when Nea Marin's wife Veta, appear and clean the facts. Sergiu Nicolaescu said later that he tried to do a comedy, if he can do such a movie. Is, however, his only comedy in his career, and one of the few (if it's not the only) when he doesn't appear. (even his voice can be hear at radio) The music comes from the album "World's War". -
Wou when i saw this movies i completly forgot about the time !!! Rare thing for me !!! i laughed so hard i almost fell from the chair i was sitting . when the movie finished , my jaws heart , same as my tummy from all the laughing ... i rate it as the BEST COMEDY EVER
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Kirpianuscus2 December 2016maybe, the best Romanian comedy. because it is a smart game with clichés. because it used an admirable cast. and, not the last, because it reflects the ambition of Sergiu Nicolaescu to explore each genre with the right tools, tone and perseverance. the story is so simple than it becomes more and more complex. Amza Pellea has the opportunity to use his well known character from a series of sketches in a film where U.S. dollars, a fake Colombo and two briefcases and theirs owners are mixed with images from Romanian shore and classic gags. it is not easy to explain its success today. in the Comunist Romania was one of the alternatives to the propaganda message and the confusion between a rich American and a Romanian peasant has many nice significance. today, it could be one of the symptoms of nostalgia for a stable society. or for the ideal past of small things and an all powerful party who defines the rules and could be bantered. but "Nea Mărin , miliardar" is more than a slice from "Golden Age". it remains a pure delight.
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Vincentiu8 February 2013it is a kind of legend. for cast. for good memories of a generation. for its virtue as fresh air under Communist fog. in fact, it is a puzzle. different pieces. a memorable character. great actors. and a lot of forms of humor. it is the only comedy by Sergiu Nicolaescu. a surrogate but with a fantastic success to public. today, it is difficult to define it. it is nice, full of sparkles, but not extraordinary. but the flavor of that Romania, gray, cold, is the perfect argument to discover it again and again. sure, the situation humor is not real brilliant but it remains pleasant. and this is enough. for Romanians because out of theirs it is almost not expected to be more than another comedy. for me , it is a slice from great Amza Pellea huge art. and a journey in past. really charming.