Guided Course for Feature Film Writing
PRODUCTION / FUNDING Romania / Moldova
29/08/2022 - The coming-of-age story follows the adventures of a teenager trying to save his family’s horses
If there is something that Romanian directors and producers can agree on, it is the fact that the local film industry is terribly under-funded, which means that Romanian production companies usually shy away from genres with complicated (and expensive) production necessities, such as period dramas. But lately, national directors have been trying out new styles and approaches, and one intriguing example of this is Marian Crişan’s Warboy (working title), a film set during the turbulent year of 1944, as Romania is ravaged by World War II. Warboy is being staged by Rova Film, represented by Crişan and Răzvan Bumbeş. Dragoş Turea’s Parmis Film (Moldova) and Viorel Chesaru’s Chainsaw Europe (Romania) are the co-production companies.
The screenplay, written by Crişan (whose previous features include 2010’s Morgen [+see also: trailer film profile ] , 2012’s Rocker [+see also: trailer film profile ] , 2015’s Horizon [+see also: film review trailer interview: Marian Crisan film profile ] and 2020’s The Campaign [+see also: film review trailer interview: Marian Crişan film profile ] ), follows Nicu (newcomer Daniel Băliș), a teenager who is quite attached to his family’s two horses. It is almost the end of World War II and, as the impoverished army has made a tradition out of seizing civilians’ possessions in order to ensure its survival during the war, the two horses may be taken away, which prompts Nicu to start a perilous journey in the mountains to save them.
The film’s budget amounts to circa €700,000, with approximately €300,000 coming from the Romanian National Film Center. The Moldovan National Film Center has also supported the project. Production started in late June and will continue until the end of September in several villages and small towns in the Apuseni Mountains. Adrian Pădureţu is the DoP. Reginald Ammons, Ovidiu Crişan, Adina Iftime, Ion Bechet and Sergiu Voloc play supporting characters.
Crişan tells Cineuropa that, initially, he didn’t plan to make a period drama, but he was drawn to his grandfather’s stories. “He had these memories from 1944 and 1945, when he was a teenager and he took care of a rich neighbour’s horses. Warboy started with these memories and with this question: what did war mean for a child in those times? What does it mean for a child regardless of the era?”
Crişan also says that Warboy will try to shed light on relevant things that were left unsaid about how civilians lived through the war. “The majority of the [Romanian] films made in the 1970s and 1980s deceived the audience and had a nationalistic approach. (…) They said nothing about the families left behind. This was what interested me – making a war film in 2022, but without any heroic deeds or trenches. On the other hand, I think that what I am trying to convey is that the story of this teenager from 1944 is universally valid, no matter when the war happens.”
Warboy will be released domestically next year.
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
The final clapperboard is slamming on Il pleut dans la maison by Paloma Sermon Daï
Elena Martín filming Creatura
The series La chica invisible wraps principal photography and enters post-production
Monos con pistola now being shot for HBO Max
Belén Macías shooting Verano en rojo
Guillaume Nicloux shoots La petite
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the most important daily or weekly news on European cinema
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the most important daily or weekly news on European cinema
Venice 2022 International Film Critics' Week/Awards
Eismayer by David Wagner wins the Grand Prize of the International Critics' Week
Venice 2022 Giornate degli Autori/Awards
Wolf and Dog wins the 2022 GdA Directors’ Award
Venice 2022 International Film Critics’ Week
Final Cut announces this year’s winners
MIDPOINT Smash Cut extends its call for entries
European titles submitted for the Oscars race
Europe and the Rest of the World – 08/09/2022 At Venice, the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk pledges its support for directors in danger VENICE 2022: It’s time to take action and expand the organisation’s operations, all of the panellists agreed
Distribution, Exhibition and Streaming FOCUS The industry is finally transitioning back to normality, with a busy festival season ahead. While keeping a close eye on the tragic war unfolding in Ukraine and its effects on the audiovisual industry, Cineuropa continues to provide extensive coverage of the European film business, including the most important summer festivals - Karlovy Vary, Locarno and Venice.
Produce – Co-Produce... – 06/09/2022 In Venice, the Roma Lazio Film Commission aims to support the growth of the sector and the territory This year, the film commission, which supported four titles, two of which were in competition, organised and participated in various networking and promotional activities
Produce – Co-Produce... – 05/09/2022 The European Writers Club and The Creatives promise to become powerhouses for writing talents VENICE 2022: The priority of both endeavours is to create compelling, high-quality audiovisual content that can strengthen European unity, but which can also travel globally
Gianni Amelio • Director of Lord of the Ants
VENICE 2022: In the Italian director’s eyes, the trial of Aldo Braibanti fifty years ago a is an opportunity to denounce homophobia past and present
Emanuele Crialese • Director of L’immensità
VENICE 2022: We chatted with the Italian director about his film based on his own adolescence, before transitioning
Romain Gavras • Director of Athena
VENICE 2022: The French director talked to us about the genesis of a film as spectacular as it is sensitive and moving
Michal Blaško • Director of Victim
VENICE 2022: We chatted to the Slovak filmmaker about his feature debut, in which he takes a deep dive into the xenophobia that’s firmly embedded in society
Cineuropa is the first European portal dedicated to cinema and audiovisual in 4 languages. With daily news, interviews, data bases, in-depth investigations into the audiovisual industry, Cineuropa aims at promoting the European film industry throughout the world. Welcome to a platform where professionals can meet and exchange information and ideas.
Contact us | Logos and Banners
Mission | Partners | Team | Participate | Donations | Terms and conditions