Glissando (1982)
A haunting Romanian drama charting one gambler's moral collapse and descent into madness in 1930s Romania.
Glissando - Movie Information
- Original Title: Glissando
- Release Year: 1982
- Directed by: Mircea Daneliuc
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 2h 45m
- Original Language: Romanian
- Spoken Languages: Romanian
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 13, 1982 (Romania)
- Production Companies: Casa de Filme Trei
- Production Countries: Romania
Glissando - Plot
In a devastating story rife with visual metaphors, Romanian director Mircea Daneliuc traces the slow mental disintegration of a confirmed gambler, using his disorder as an allusion to a greater national and social disorder. Set in the 1930s, the middle-class gambler meets an elderly man who seems to bring him good luck at the gaming tables. Rather than treasure his friendship and the good fortune it brings, the gambler takes advantage of his friend, and by his actions drives the man to suicide. Unable to reconcile his own mental demons, the gambler wanders through the house of his dead friend, and his experiences there only serve to unsettle his mind more and more and more. In the last reels of the film, the fantasies of the hero's deranged mind take over.
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Glissando - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mircea Daneliuc
Main Cast
- Ştefan Iordache
- Tora Vasilescu
- Petre Simionescu
- Mitică Popescu
- Tamara Creţulescu
- Camelia Zorlescu
- Constantin Drăgănescu
- Rada Istrate
- Victor Ionescu
- Ion Fiscuteanu
Writers
- Mircea Daneliuc
Glissando - FAQs
What is Glissando about?
Glissando follows a compulsive gambler in 1930s Romania whose moral failures lead to devastating consequences. After exploiting an elderly companion whose presence brings him luck at the tables, he drives the man to suicide and spirals into psychological disintegration, wandering through his dead friend's house as fantasy and madness consume him.
Is Glissando based on a novel or book?
Yes, Glissando is adapted from a literary source. The film draws on a written work, with director Mircea Daneliuc also serving as the screenwriter, shaping the narrative into a visually rich exploration of moral decay and psychological collapse set against the backdrop of 1930s Romanian society.
Who directed Glissando and wrote the screenplay?
Mircea Daneliuc both directed and wrote the screenplay for Glissando. One of Romania's most distinctive filmmakers, Daneliuc uses the story of a gambler's mental unraveling as a vehicle for broader social and national commentary, weaving in striking visual metaphors throughout the film.
Who are the main actors in Glissando?
The film stars Ştefan Iordache as Ion Teodorescu, the tormented gambler at the center of the story, alongside Tora Vasilescu as Nina and Petre Simionescu as Iorgu Ordeanu. The cast also includes Mitică Popescu, Ion Fiscuteanu as Alexandru Agiu, Rada Istrate as Maria, and several other notable Romanian actors.
What makes Glissando significant in Romanian cinema?
Glissando stands out as a bold piece of Romanian cinema from the Communist era, using the metaphor of gambling addiction to subtly critique national and social dysfunction. Daneliuc's layered visual storytelling and the film's descent into surreal psychological territory gave it an enduring reputation as one of Romania's most daring films of the 1980s.
When was Glissando released?
Glissando was released on January 13, 1982, in Romania. The film was produced by Casa de Filme Trei and represents a key work in Romanian cinema of the early 1980s, a period marked by tight censorship and creative tension between filmmakers and the Communist regime.
How long is Glissando?
Glissando has a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes (165 minutes). Its extended length gives Mircea Daneliuc ample space to develop the protagonist's slow psychological deterioration, allowing the film's atmosphere of dread and moral ambiguity to build gradually and immersively.
What are some films similar to Glissando?
If Glissando resonates with you, you might enjoy La Chienne (1931), Martin Eden (2019), Billy Liar (1963), and Enchanted April (1991). These films share themes of psychological complexity, social entrapment, and morally conflicted protagonists navigating worlds that seem to close in around them.
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