Why Are the Bells Ringing, Mitica?

Based on a theatrical text by Romanian writer Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912), who was a bitter and funny witness of the turn-of-the-20th-century Romanian bourgeois mores, Carnival Scenes manages to preserve and further enhance the slightly hysteric atmosphere of his plays. Pintilie creates a strange combination of carnival scenes which is brought to the screen as a burlesque, fast-paced, screwball comedy with a meditative undertone. This film was banned in Romania for a decade until the death of Ceausescu in 1989 and was only released after the 1989 revolution.

Cast

Victor Rebengiuc

Pampon

Mariana Mihuț

Mita Baston

Tora Vasilescu

Didina Mazu

Gheorghe Dinică

Nae

Petre Gheorghiu

Crăcănel

Mircea Diaconu

Iordache

Ştefan Iordache

Mitica

Florin Zamfirescu

Ștefan Bănică

Constantin Băltărețu