This colourful, music-filled and sensual melodrama based on early stories by Maxim Gorky tells the fatal love story between the beautiful and rebellious girl Rada and the handsome horse thief Zobar. The story is set in early 20th century Bessarabia, now part of Moldova, then belonging to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Cinematography
Every frame looks like a fever dream oil painting.
Score
Romani folk music that HAUNTS. You'll hum it for days.
Costume
Colours so loud they practically scream at the tragedy.
Director
Emil Loteanu
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Emil Loteanu fought Soviet censors who hated the 'decadent' Romani portrayal; he basically smuggled sensuality into socialist cinema.
Svetlana Toma became a Soviet superstar overnight; Grigore Grigoriu was actually Romani, rare authentic casting for the era.
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