Gruber's Journey
Encyclopedia
Gruber's Journey or Călătoria lui Gruber is a 2008
Romanian
drama film
directed by Radu Gabrea. It is set in World War II
during the Holocaust in Iaşi
(Iaşi pogrom
) and was shot on location in Bucharest
. The film screened at the Third Annual Romanian Film Festival.
, who was a member of the Italian Fascist Party.
Malaparte is assigned to cover the Russian front for the Italian news service, and travels with Colonel Freitag of the Wehrmacht and the deputy commander of the local Romanian garrison to Romania. He suffers from a serious allergy and is sent to consult world-class allergist, Dr. Josef Gruber in Iaşi, but Gruber is missing.
Suffering terribly from his allergy, Malaparte desperately seeks to find the doctor who has been captured. During his search for the doctor he encounters shocking situations in the Holocaust against the Jews in the city. He later writes a very critical account of the incident in his novel Kaputt.
in Suceava
. The railway station was chosen by the filmmakers to appear in the film because its architecture was reminiscent of the period of the Second World War.
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
Romanian
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Radu Gabrea. It is set in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during the Holocaust in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
(Iaşi pogrom
Iasi pogrom
The Iaşi pogrom or Jassy pogrom of June 27, 1941 was one of the most violent pogroms in Jewish history, launched by governmental forces in the Romanian city of Iaşi against its Jewish population, resulting in the murder of at least 13,266 Jews, according to Romanian authorities.-Background:]During...
) and was shot on location in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. The film screened at the Third Annual Romanian Film Festival.
Plot
The film centers on an Italian writer named Curzio MalaparteCurzio Malaparte
Curzio Malaparte , born Kurt Erich Suckert, was an Italian journalist, dramatist, short-story writer, novelist and diplomat...
, who was a member of the Italian Fascist Party.
Malaparte is assigned to cover the Russian front for the Italian news service, and travels with Colonel Freitag of the Wehrmacht and the deputy commander of the local Romanian garrison to Romania. He suffers from a serious allergy and is sent to consult world-class allergist, Dr. Josef Gruber in Iaşi, but Gruber is missing.
Suffering terribly from his allergy, Malaparte desperately seeks to find the doctor who has been captured. During his search for the doctor he encounters shocking situations in the Holocaust against the Jews in the city. He later writes a very critical account of the incident in his novel Kaputt.
Cast
- Florin Piersic Jr. as Curzio Malaparte
- Marcel IureşMarcel IuresMarcel Iureş is a Romanian stage and screen actor.Iureş was born 2 August 1951 in Băileşti, Romania and is one of Romania's most acclaimed stage and film actors. Iureş entered the Institutul de Arta Teatrala si Cinematografica in Bucharest in 1974 and graduated in 1978...
as Doctor Gruber - Udo Schenk as Col. Freitag
- Claudiu BleonţClaudiu BleontClaudiu Bleonţ is a Romanian film and theatre actor. He is known in Romania not only by his acting ability, but also for his improvisational talent.-Life & career:...
as Col. Niculescu-Coca - Alexandru Bindea as Guido Sartori
- Răzvan VasilescuRăzvan VasilescuRăzvan Vasilescu is a Romanian actor. He has appeared in 40 films and television shows since 1979. He starred in The Oak, which was screened out of competition at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
as Stavarache - Andi Vasluianu as Mircea
- Ionuţ Grama as Consulate Driver
- Sandu Mihai Gruia as Dr. Anghel
- Dumitru-Paul Fălticeanu as Soldier
- Cristina Bodnărescu as Wome
- Trefi Alexandru as Soldier
Production
In September 2007, scenes were shot at the North railway stationSuceava North railway station
The Suceava North , also known as Iţcani, is a railway station located in Suceava, Suceava County, completed in 1871. Originally part of Iţcani village , it is located at No. 4, Strada Gării...
in Suceava
Suceava
Suceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565.-History:...
. The railway station was chosen by the filmmakers to appear in the film because its architecture was reminiscent of the period of the Second World War.