The Lost Forest

The filmography of Romanian director Andrei Blaier is divided into two distinct segments. In the early part of his career, Blaier explored the trials of youth trying to get by within an imperfect social system. In the latter period, Blaier turned to psychological dramas, for which he is best known. In addition to making feature films, he also directs shorts and occasionally acts in the films of others. Born in Bucharest, Blaier graduated from the Institute of Theater and Film Art in 1956 and started out directing theatrical productions. As a film director, Blaier made 30 short films in collaboration with Sinisa Ivtici before making his first full-length feature, Ora, again in conjunction with Ivtici. Blaier directed his first solo film, A Fost Prietenul Meu/He Was My Friend (1962). He had his first success with his third film, Diminetile Unui Baiat Cuminte/The Mornings of a Sensible Youth (1966). It would be Blaier’s last “youth” film; from there on, he concentrated on psychological and social dramas centered around adult concerns such as Apoi s-a Nascut Legenda/Then Came the Legend (1968) and Urgia/Calamity (1978). —allmovie guide