The film starts pretty slow and straight-forwardly. Good, but almost ordinary storytelling. The setting is the 1920`s in Bucharest and we get to have a feeling of that time and place. We learn of the obvious traits of all the characters. Emilia is promiscuous. Ladima is too nice and platonic (man of integrity). Fred was/is madly in love with a woman (Madame T), but nothing is coming of it but sorrow and pain. The only real mystery remaining, so we think, is Madame T. Money problems, acting career, newspaper censorship. It moves along quietly, but nicely. Petru Vutcarau does any incredible job as Fred and this talent can be seen throughout the movie.