Watch Forest of the Hanged

Forest of the Hanged is a Romanian war drama film from 1965. The film was directed by Liviu Ciulei and starred Victor Rebengiuc, Liviu Ciulei, and Stefan Ciubotarasu. The story follows the journey of a young Romanian soldier named Apostol Bologa, who is conscripted to fight for the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I, against his own country.

The film is set in Transylvania, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in the year 1916. Apostol Bologa, a young shepherd, is called up to serve in the imperial army. He leaves behind his home and his family, including his fiancee, Ileana Cosânzeana, who is played by Ioana Bulcă. Bologa is unwilling to fight against his own people, but he is nonetheless sent to the front lines.

Once he arrives at the front, Bologa finds himself in a difficult situation. He has no loyalty to the empire he is fighting for, but he also doesn't want to betray his own country. He becomes friends with a Romanian prisoner of war, known only as The Captain, played by Florin Piersic. The Captain encourages Bologa to desert the Austro-Hungarian army and join the Romanian forces. But Bologa struggles with this decision, torn between his patriotism and his own conscience.

Meanwhile, Bologa's family and community are subjected to brutality and repression by the Austro-Hungarian army, as they try to quell the growing independence movement in Romania. Bologa's father, played by Ion Dichiseanu, is imprisoned by the authorities, leading to further tensions between Bologa and his superiors.

As the war continues and the situation in Romania becomes more precarious, Bologa is finally forced to make a choice. He must choose between his loyalty to his country and his love for Ileana, who has been waiting for him back home. The film builds up to a dramatic and emotional conclusion, as Bologa's fate is decided in the forest of the hanged, a place where deserters are executed by their own comrades.

Forest of the Hanged is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores themes of patriotism, loyalty, and conscience. The film is notable for its realistic and gritty portrayal of war, as well as its complex characters and nuanced performances. Victor Rebengiuc delivers a standout performance as Bologa, conveying his inner turmoil with subtlety and nuance.

The film was critically acclaimed upon its release and has since become a classic of Romanian cinema. It was also nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival. Forest of the Hanged is a must-see for anyone interested in Romanian history or war films.