I actually didn't think that "Descending Angel," a 1990 production for HBO, was too awful, and I don't see what was historically inaccurate about it, referring back to a review on this site.
Eric Roberts plays Michael Rossi, who wants to marry Irinia Stroia (Diane Lane). They travel to the Stroia home to meet Irinia's formidable father Florian (George C. Scott) who is prominent in the community.
It doesn't take long for Michael to be told by a survivor of a Romanian concentration camp that Florian was a Nazi collaborator, something the family denies. Disturbed, Michael investigates and learns that Florian was a member of the Iron Guard and responsible for the murders of men, women, and children. Confronted with this, Irinia is unable to accept the truth.
A review on this site said Romania was on the side of the Allies - well, that was at the end. Of all those joined with Nazi Germany, Romania was responsible for the deaths of more Jews than any country other than Germany itself. It's true that their alliance with the Allies probably did shorten the war and save many lives. The Iron Guard made the harsh anti-Semitic legislation worse and enacted legislation directed against minority businessmen.
The acting is very good, with Eric Roberts giving a passionate performance, George C. Scott is fine as the guarded and stern Stroia, and a young Diane Lane is lovely as a woman torn between devotion to her father and accepting the reality of his past. The end was abrupt and strange. The film did have some tense moments.
It's not as good as "The Music Box" but it's okay.
Eric Roberts plays Michael Rossi, who wants to marry Irinia Stroia (Diane Lane). They travel to the Stroia home to meet Irinia's formidable father Florian (George C. Scott) who is prominent in the community.
It doesn't take long for Michael to be told by a survivor of a Romanian concentration camp that Florian was a Nazi collaborator, something the family denies. Disturbed, Michael investigates and learns that Florian was a member of the Iron Guard and responsible for the murders of men, women, and children. Confronted with this, Irinia is unable to accept the truth.
A review on this site said Romania was on the side of the Allies - well, that was at the end. Of all those joined with Nazi Germany, Romania was responsible for the deaths of more Jews than any country other than Germany itself. It's true that their alliance with the Allies probably did shorten the war and save many lives. The Iron Guard made the harsh anti-Semitic legislation worse and enacted legislation directed against minority businessmen.
The acting is very good, with Eric Roberts giving a passionate performance, George C. Scott is fine as the guarded and stern Stroia, and a young Diane Lane is lovely as a woman torn between devotion to her father and accepting the reality of his past. The end was abrupt and strange. The film did have some tense moments.
It's not as good as "The Music Box" but it's okay.