The Good Fairy of Socialism
Veronica is a morally charged adventure story for the little ones. Veronica (Lulu Mihăescu) lives in a boarding school run by a strict teacher (Margareta Pâslaru).
Two weeks ago, when we were talking about children's films made in socialist Romania, mentioning The Enchanted Grove (1980, directed by Gheorghe Naghi), and Childhood Memories (1965, directed by Elisabeta Bostan), I brought up the idea that they present childhood as a stage of freedom, play and fantasy, in contrast to the social order and the often brutal adult maturity. Today we review one of the most popular Romanian children's films of the socialist period: Veronica (1972, dir. Elisabeta Bostan), a musical with an impressive production budget and a major display of character.
Veronica is a morally charged adventure story for the little ones. Veronica (Lulu Mihăescu) lives in a boarding school run by a strict teacher (Margareta Pâslaru). On her fifth birthday, the Good Fairy gives her a magical bag that will fulfill all her wishes. However, the joy doesn't last long. Overwhelmed with happiness, the little girl refuses to share the bag with the other children. Seeing this, the magical bag decides to leave. In tears, Veronica sets out to find it and enters the enchanted forest, where she meets both good and bad characters and learns valuable lessons about lying, friendship, and generosity.
In addition to the large ensemble of children, the cast also includes big names from Romanian theater and film. We have the aforementioned Margareta Pâslaru — whom you can also see on Cinepub in her iconic role in A Film About a Charming Girl (1966, dir. Lucian Bratu) — who plays both the boarding school teacher and the Good Fairy; Vasilica Tastaman as the Fox, Dem Rădulescu as the Cat Dănilă, and George Mihăiță (The Reenactment, 1968, dir. Lucian Pintilie) as the Mouse Aurică.
The adorable presence of the young actress makes every scene she appears in special. The children's choreography is skillfully directed by the filmmaker and accompanied by a series of memorable songs. The sets, costumes, and fairy-tale atmosphere are truly impressive, and the abundance of colors and lights makes everything feel magical. A recurring aspect in children's films from that period is the portrayal of adults as unpleasant and often bourgeois. In the case of Veronica, the girl's refusal to share the magical gift leads to a "reeducation" in the form of play, emphasizing the importance of collective values and generosity in line with socialist ideology.
The points where the film slips are related to the lack of rigor of the plot, which is decisive in the convention of the film, but which is sometimes lost in favor of choreographic spectacle. Nonetheless, Veronica remains a magical and memorable film, a time capsule reflecting the values and aesthetics of children's cinema in the Socialist Republic of Romania.
With this premiere, we also mark the end of the second edition of our project "Cinepub Universal," dedicated to curating and broadcasting pre-1989 Romanian films. This project, featuring works from the national cinematic heritage, is funded by the National Center of Cinematography. Special thanks are due to the Romanian Filmmakers' Union and the National Film Archive.
We wish you a good screening!
(Emil Vasilache, cinepub.ro)
This week's premiere: Veronica by Elisabeta Bostan, Thursday, June 27th, at 9:00 p.m EEST, on CINEPUB.RO
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