One of the smaller pleasures of Cape Winelands feature competition section is a comedy of cultural difference by Napoleon Helmis. Wedding in Besarabia follows Vlad and Vica as they prepare to get married in the bride’s hometown of Chisinau, the capital of Moldova and once part of Romania, until it was annexed by Soviet forces in 1940. The couple have chosen to return there knowing that the tradition of giving the new couple money will help support them in their new life together. However, Vlad’s proudly patriotic Romanian uncle and …

S-a nascut pe 11 septembrie 1962 . Roluri importante in filmele : Undeva in est, Le derniere plan, Ingerul necesar, Nunta in Basarabia . A jucat in mai mult de treizeci de filme romanesti sau straine . De asemenea are peste 15 roluri principale in teatru.  A participat la zeci de festivaluri pe aproape toate continentele.  Este cadru didactic in disciplina actorie la universitatea Hyperion.  Joaca rolul titular in spectacolul Papusarul la TES in regia lui Al. Hausvater .

“Wedding in Bessarabia” juxtaposes the folksiness of tradition with the innovations of modernity, the personal with the political and the increasingly westernized Romania of today with the authoritarian Romania of yesteryear. (The groom’s jaded mother even waxes nostalgic for the Ceausescu period, offering an “at least the trains ran on time” line of argument.) This film, with its memorable personas, its flourishes of MTV-style editing and its happy ending, might hold the greatest appeal for anybody intimidated by the prospect of plunging into a national cinema they didn’t even know …

WEDDING IN BESSARABIA is a simple film. It’s a very European tale – in the best sense of the word – helping shed light on the relatively obscure history of one region.(…) WEDDING IN BESSARABIA is a high-calibre film that celebrates joie de vivre and humanity and delights artistically at the socio-political complexities.
Kaarel Kuurmaa, Festival Programmer, Black Nights Tallinn International Film Festival

What is most exciting about the film is how it fits into a classic European tradition while also revealing the subtleties of a culture that remains quite obscure.(…) In the midst of political debate, social complexities and economic hardships, what emerges is a portrait of a community that celebrates  joie de vivre and humanity. The film holds on to its optimism while it delights artistically in the socio-political complexities of a region that has known its share of sorrows.
Sandy Mandelberger, Cineuropa.org