The White Moor (De-as fi... Harap Alb)

You good for nothing, eating the bread of idleness.

Wasting your time.

And boasting you're the king's son.

The first to eat your pie, the last to fight and die...

IF I WERE... THE WHITE MOOR

After the tale the "WHITE MOOR" by Ion Creanga

Director: Ion Popescu Gopo

Once upon a time there was a king

who had three sons.

This king had an older brother

who was emperor of a far away country.

And the emperor, the king's brother

was called the Green Emperor.

The Green Emperor had no sons, but only daughters.

Many years had passed since the two brothers

had seen each other.

And the cousins, the king's sons and the emperor's daughters

had never seen each other

in their entire lives.

For the Green Emperor's country

lay at one end of the world

and the kingdom of the other, at the opposite end.

And in those times

almost all countries in the world were ravaged by cruel wars.

The roads by land and sea

were little known, tortuous and winding.

That's why travelling in those days was full of perils,

unlike today.

And he who set out for one part of the world

would rarely be seen again.

But let's not get carried away, and continue with our story.

The story goes that the emperor, as he advanced in age,

wrote a letter to his brother, the king.

On receiving the letter, the king calls upon his sons

and tells them:

Here's what your uncle asks of you: "He who is fit to rule

over such a great country like mine, let him come and take my place!"

This honor must be mine. I am the eldest.

Pray, grant that I leave right away.

Farewell my beloved son.

The young prince, gathering all he needed

bids his father farewell and sets out joyfully for his uncle's kingdom.

But the king, wishing to test his son's valor,

dresses up as a bear

and rides to surprise his son,

hiding under a bridge.

When his son reached the bridge, all of a sudden

a bear angry rose before him.

Then the horse reared on his hind legs

nearly overthrowing his master.

The king's son, unable to control his horse and

afraid to continue his journey

turned back, ashamed, to his father.

Did you forget anything, my dear boy?

No, I haven't. But at the bridge

I was attacked by a terrible bear.

He scared the life out of me.

You are not fit and worthy to rule over the empire.

You should stay at home.

Father,

the second son said.

I will go.

He then got ready,

took the letter for his uncle,

said farewell to his brothers

and set out the next day.

And he rode on and on,

until the night fell.

At the bridge,

the bear appears again.

I see the saying applies to you...

Protect me from hens, for dogs I do not fear.

What are you saying father?

Do you call bears hens?

Thank god I got out alive,

I have enough to eat at your house.

Food there's plenty.

But what about your shame?

Father!

Father, let me go...

You?

And what happened next?

I'll tell you tomorrow.

And as he was musing, lost in thoughts

he suddenly found himself

with an old woman in front of him asking for alms.

- I want to pee. - Shut up.

I want to pee.

Why are you lost in thoughts, fair prince?

Drive sorrow out of your heart!

Good luck is smiling at you from everywhere.

Aunty sit down and rest yourself.

Slowly, that's it.

I knew you would come.

- Did you? - Since this morning.

Aren't you the old woman of the fairy tale?

What do you mean? Can you spare a coin for me?

The coin is prepared, but first transform yourself!

Turn from an old woman

into a beautiful young fairy.

Are you making fun of me? Me?

- Aren't you the old woman of the fairy tale? - No, I am not.

- Neither... - Neither!

Well, then go your way.

Tell me what troubles you.

Maybe I am able to help you.

One is one and two are few.

Leave me alone!

I'm worried.

I thought you were an enchanted personage from the "White Moor" story.

- Don't you know the story of "White Moor"? - No. I've never heard of it.

When mother used to tell me this tale

I felt I was the White Moor.

And father: You?

Don't take it to heart.

Here aunty!

Take it and farewell.

What you give me may God return to you tenfold!

Now fair prince

be careful.

Soon you will be

I know

Take your father's horse, sword and the garments he wore as a bridegroom.

Put a tray of burning embers in the horse stable.

You know what follows, don't you?

It's like the tale.

The Smooth Face will catch you at the well.

Should a man know how he shall fare

He'd work and ply with the greatest of care.

May you be the White Moor and my his fate be

yours.

Come on, eat your embers!

Which of you has eaten the embers?

Good Lord...

So it's you!

Where have you got these clothes from?

Some old rags from the attic.

Farewell.

It's father.

The very first to eat the pie...

Young one!

Here I am!

Young one!

Here.

Dad, daddy, dad!

Look!

You were most valiant and you are worthy.

To rule over the empire.

Go to my brother.

By this the Green Emperor

will recognize you as the heir.

Father!

Reign with kindness and wisdom.

- Beware of the Smooth Face. - I know.

Good bye!

Beware of the Smooth Face.

My beloved son...

I thought it was my own face mirrored in the water.

Maybe it is.

Me is me.

You are somebody else.

Are you the Smooth Face?

Daddy told me not to speak to you.

I don't speak to you.

Is that you again or somebody else?

Where's the road to the Green Emperor?

- Hire me as your guide. - No, I don't need you.

- You'll lose your way. - I will not.

You have lost your way.

I'll lead you to the Green Emperor, my prince.

It is rather gloomy indeed.

Was there a battle here?

It was a slaughter.

What are these?

There were men tied to the wheels

and raised to the sun

they died from thirst.

They celebrated the victory drinking red wine

in a lake of blood.

These are the fairy tales.

Are you the Smooth Face?

I had to avoid this well.

What you feared most, you were unable to escape.

Tell me who you are and here you are going.

Or else your bones will rot there.

Are you the king's son?

I will tell you nothing.

Where are you going to?

I will tell you nothing.

I can wait.

You may wait till doomsday.

I am quite happy here.

That's all I wanted to know.

I could kill you

but I feel pity for your young age.

If you wish to see the sun again,

swear you will obey me.

Even if I bid to throw yourself into the fire.

From now on

I will be the Green Emperor's nephew,