By far the most popular children’s film in the history of Romanian cinema, Veronica is a musical released in 1972 and directed by Elizabeta Bostan. It’s a tableau of childhood, a perfect illustration of how, in a child’s world, the level of the human and the real coexists and frequently merges with the level of the imaginary, where inanimate objects come to life and where right and wrong are personified by animals with supernatural powers.
"It’s a tableau of childhood, a perfect illustration of how, in a child’s world, the level of the human and the real coexists"
The movie unfolds in an orphanage and later moves into nature, where extraordinary things happen and characters from popular French fables come to life. The film focuses on the mischievous yet adorable orphan girl Veronica, who likes to dance and sing but is always up to trouble. On her birthday, “ Zana cea Buna ” (the Good Fairy) gives her an enchanted pouch, a “ traista fermecata ,” as a present. The pouch is filled with “ povete ” (good advise), and “ poate multe sa te-nvete, daca o asculti mereu ” (it can teach you many things, if you listen to it at all times). The Good Fairy, however, warns Veronica that she has to share the pouch with the other children: “ a oricui poate fi, si a lui si a ta ” (it could be anyone’s, it could be his or hers). Thus, she hints at the actual implication of the present, that is, it’s meant to teach Veronica the gift of sharing.
The enchanted pouch can speak, sing, and fly, and as expected, it captivates the children who want to play with it. Veronica, however, refuses to share the pouch, and in doing so, she breaks the promise made to the Good Fairy. Offended, the enchanted pouch cautions Veronica and disappears into the woods. Veronica is distraught, and she enters the woods in search of the pouch and ends up getting lost. While wandering around, the little girl meets a series of characters from fables, charming viewers with their dynamism and propensity for teaching and instruction. Among the most notable ones are: “ aprigul Motan Danila ” (the feisty Danila de Puss), who is so gullible that even the mice living in his watermill seize every opportunity to make fun of him; La Fontaine’s “ Cumatra Vuipe ” (the Cunning Fox), who tries to dupe everyone around her; “ Greierele si Furnica ” (the Grasshopper and the Ant); and “ Soricelul Aurica ” (Aurica the Mouse), who is at loggerheads with Danila the Puss. Through her interactions with these characters, Veronica learns a series of valuable lessons and gains a better understanding of right and wrong. Eventually, the little girl gets her enchanted pouch back, and the general feeling of joy that dominates the opening scenes is restored.
"Although produced back in 1972, the movie is a cinematic masterpiece, beautifully designed and a document of the literary standard Romanian language."
Although produced back in 1972, the movie is a cinematic masterpiece, beautifully designed and a document of the literary standard Romanian language. Aimed at children, the language employed is free of colloquialisms and semantically obscure words, oozing meaning and encompassing the spirit of the age.
