Mona, l'étoile sans nom

One of the most sensitive and stylish Romanian lyrical classics, proving that Romanian and French cultures are closely kindred. Henri Colpi really grokked the spirit of Mihail Sebastian's famous play, sensibly expressing the quest for the absolute of the idealistic astronomy professor mired in a barren small town.

Marina Vlady is indeed the perfect "Mona" ("the nameless star"), and Claude Rich portrays with empathy and refinement the sentimental Miroiu. But, of course, the cake is stolen by Grigore Vasiliu Birlic, peerless in another of his masterful performances. A movie to be seen with a tender smile and a tear in your eye's corner.