A film about renowned violinist Georges Boulanger, which Emil Loteanu had planned to make, was never completed following the director’s death 23 years ago. For the leading role, the celebrated filmmaker had chosen Teodor Guțu, a television producer and director who was then artistic director at Moldova’s National Television. The story behind the project, as well as memories of his encounter with Emil Loteanu, were revealed by Guțu in an interview with Realitatea.
According to Teodor Guțu, his meeting with Emil Loteanu happened entirely by chance in the corridors of National Television. As he was walking with an armful of video cassettes, the young man was stopped by the filmmaker, who asked whether he had ever attended music school and whether he would be interested in auditioning for a film.
Although he had no musical training or acting experience, Teodor Guțu agreed. A week later, he was invited to take part in a photo shoot. After reviewing the photographs, Emil Loteanu informed him that he had been selected for the leading role.
“The contract is yours,” the director reportedly told him, explaining that he had seen in the photographs the expressiveness and emotional depth he needed for the character.
The film was to tell the life story of violinist Georges Boulanger, whose real name was Gheorghe Pantazi. Teodor Guțu was expected to portray him from the age of 17 to beyond 40.
The actor would have had to gain approximately 10 kilograms, learn to play the violin and prepare for scenes alongside an orchestra. The project was intended to combine Boulanger’s life story with Balkan music and Romanian traditions. Emil Loteanu was even planning to present the film at the Cannes Film Festival.
However, approximately two weeks before filming was due to begin, Teodor Guțu received the news of Emil Loteanu’s death. He travelled to Moscow to attend the director’s funeral, where he revealed to those close to the filmmaker for the first time who had been chosen for the leading role.
“For me, it was an open door into the world of dreams, and just when you take the first step, the door closes in your face,” Teodor Guțu recalled.
He also spoke about his final meeting with Emil Loteanu. The director told him how much he wanted to complete the film and assured him that, after this production, he would have the opportunity to choose major contracts in the film industry.
“I pray to God that we stay healthy and manage to shoot the film. But I know this film will be a very good one,” Guțu remembers the filmmaker telling him.
One lesser-known detail is that the film’s literary screenplay, long believed to have been lost, is actually in Teodor Guțu’s possession. He revealed that the document was discovered only this year and was subsequently handed over to be copied, in the hope that the project might one day be brought to life.
Video footage from the recording of the film’s soundtrack has also survived. The session was conducted by Emil Loteanu together with the Lăutarii Orchestra at the Moldova-Film studio. According to Guțu, these may be among the last surviving video recordings featuring the celebrated filmmaker.
The interview is part of a series of stories marking the 90th anniversary of Emil Loteanu’s birth. Through these features, Realitatea is bringing lesser-known stories and testimonies about the filmmaker’s life and work to public attention.
Emil Loteanu directed and wrote more than 20 films and became one of the filmmakers from the region whose work achieved the greatest international recognition. Films such as A Hunting Accident, The Fiddlers and The Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven were watched by tens of millions of viewers and received numerous awards at international film festivals.
