One Step Behind the Seraphim (2017) Reviews

• Not a movie about the Church and that's good!

  razvancostache-12017-09-21

  First: Not a movie about The Church. It's a great story about coming of age in a very specific and harsh environment, friendship and finding yourself. Excellent movie that shifts the approach about such topics in the Romanian cinematography. It's good to see a movie that doe does not exploit in a dramatic way the status quo of the Romanian society in the last 30 years, but tries to tell a real story. The music and cast are on point and Daniel's style is omnipresent throughout the narrative.

• Best movie ever made in Romania by far.

  dusaml242017-10-25

  I came back home a few hours ago from the cinema where I saw this movie and I still think about it. It made me write my first review so please don't be harsh. This was for sure the most interesting movie made in Romania (by far) - and I tried to watch them all! I had a lot of fun, the crowd reacted so good at this movie, it was for the first time when I felt like home at the cinema! The story shows the truth behind what can happen in a Priests school in a very intelligent and funny way. In some of the situations I even saw myself in high- school skipping school and run to the billiard club, all the smoking and experience sex from the first time. So many things happen in this movie that I even wish for a sequel or even a TV series based on this story. The performance of the young actors (and not only) from this movie was VERY credible. I recommend all of u who question themselves if this one worth to be seen to go and watch it and then, if they don't feel the same like me to answer this review :) I can't understand why I didn't saw advertising true the city about this movie, it's absolutely brilliant - other movies have huge advertising campaigns, but don't even worth the drive to the cinema.

• a picture

  Kirpianuscus2017-09-30

  teenagers.between vocation and the desires of the age.forms of resistance against the pressures. an Orthodox seminary circle who reflects Romanian school system in many aspects. and the compromises. good music. admirable performances. the touch of personal experiences of the director at his first movie. and the trip across a world of survive. the easy verdict - a film against the Church. in fact, only the exploration of the geography of an age, with its clear perception about good and bad, with its aspects of weakness and idealism and a priest teacher and his recipe of successful control. the basic observation - new proof of the force of performance from Vlad Ivanov. the second - first step of a great generation of actors. and the ironic expression about appearances and expectations.not the last - the bitter humor. and the tension who remains good spice for a film who has the virtue to escape to the expectations.

• One of best Romanian movies in the last (many) years

  mariuspetroiu2017-09-27

  This is a movie not only worth seeing, but also worth having it at home, in your DVD collection. With an amazingly well-written script, the movie is extremely well played by a group of young and very talented actors, with an awesome direction throughout their entire play. In addition, the fact that the movie has a well-established humour, with scenes and acts that depict very authentic the life in a Romanian Orthodox high-school, a taboo place for many in Eastern Europe countries, is an added value to this movie. Do not worry if the film takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, you will not notice how time flies, when seeing it. One of the most enjoyable and well-made Romanian movies in decades.

• Surprise

  davidsid-davidsid2018-02-18

  I dreaded that the film is going to be about another over-dramatised and falsely advertised misconducts in the Orthodox Church BUT it wasn't! I dislike commercial films where you're forced to give up one and a half hour from your life or even more for another cliché ending or nothing. The actors play their roles authentically, the story could have been detailed more and the ending is gripping as well. Music in films are important to me, so it's well chosen and makes you think a bit about the film next day after you've watched it. I recommend it!