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Ion Caramitru

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Ion Caramitru
OBE
Romanianpostage stamp,2016
Born
Ion Horia Leonida Caramitru

(1942-03-09)9 March 1942
Bucharest,Romania
Died5 September 2021(2021-09-05)(aged 79)
Bucharest, Romania
Resting placeBellu Cemetery
Occupation(s)Actor, theatre director, politician
OfficeMinister of CultureofRomania
Director of theNational Theatre Bucharest
SpouseMicaela Caracaș
Children3

Ion Horia Leonida Caramitru(Romanian pronunciation:[iˈonkaraˈmitru];9 March 1942 – 5 September 2021) was a Romanian stage and film actor, stage director, and political figure. He wasMinister of Culturebetween 1996 and 2000, in theRomanian Democratic Convention(CDR) cabinets ofVictor Ciorbea,Gavril Dejeu,Radu Vasile,Alexandru Athanasiu,andMugur Isărescu.[1]He was married to actress Micaela Caracaș and had three sons: Ștefan, Andrei, and Matei Caramitru.[2]He was a relevant figure of theAromanian community of Romania.

Early life and acting career

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Ion Caramitru was born in anAromanianfamily, with his mother being fromAno Grammatiko[bg;el;mk](Aromanian:Grãmãticuva) in modernGreecewhile his father being fromKorçë(Aromanian:Curceaua,Curceauã,CurceauorCurciau) in modernAlbania.[3]Nevertheless, Caramitru had aMegleno-Romaniangrandfather.[4]Caramitru was born inBucharest,and graduated from theI. L. Caragiale Institute for Theater and Film Artsin 1964, having debuted on the stage a year earlier — with the title role in an acclaimed production ofWilliam Shakespeare'sHamletfor theBulandra Theater.[1][5]He continued his engagement in Bulandra while starring in plays at theNational Theatre Bucharestand various other theaters.

Caramitru was a protagonist in a series of theatrical productions by directors such asLiviu Ciulei,Moni Ghelerter,Andrei Șerban,Silviu Purcărete,Sanda Manu,Cătălina Buzoianu,Alexandru Tocilescu, andSică Alexandrescu(acting in plays such asMihail Sebastian'sSteaua fără nume,Georg Büchner'sDanton's Death,Aeschylus'The Oresteia,Tennessee Williams'sA Streetcar Named Desire,Carlo Goldoni'sIl bugiardo,and in many of Shakespeare's works). As a director of theater,opera,andoperettaproductions, Caramitru notably staged works byFrederick Loewe(My Fair Lady),Marin Sorescu(The Third Stake),Benjamin Britten(The Little Sweep),Aleksei Nikolaevich Arbuzov(The Lie), and Shakespeare (The Merchant of Venice); his adaptations ofPeter Brook'sLa Tragédie de CarmenandPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky'sEugene Oneginwere hosted by theGrand Opera HouseinBelfast,Northern Ireland.[6][7][8]

Caramitru starred in over 30feature films,making his debut with a supporting role inVictor Iliu'sComoara din Vadul Vechi(1965).[9]Among his best-known roles are Vive inDiminețile unui băiat cuminte(1966), Gheorghidiu inÎntre oglinzi paralele(1978),Ștefan LuchianinLuchian(1981), and Socrate in theLiceeniiseries (1985–1987). Later in life, Caramitru has had minor roles in foreign films: he was ananarchistin the 1991Kafka,Tatevsky inCitizen X(1995), Zozimov inMission: Impossible(1996), Count Fontana inAmen.(2002), and a European immigrant to Ireland inAdam & Paul(2004).[10]

In May 2005, he won the competition to be general director of theNational Theatre Bucharest,replacingDinu Săraru.[8][1]

Political career

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Revolution

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Caramitru entered political life as an opponent of thecommunist regimein theRomanian Revolution of 1989.On 22 December 1989, afterPresidentNicolae Ceaușescuhad fled Bucharest, Caramitru and the knowndissidentwriterMircea Dinescujoined the crowd occupying theRomanian Televisionbuilding, and were prominent among the numerous speakers who were proclaiming revolutionary victory.[11]

A popular rumor circulating soon after the episode alleged that, unaware of being filmed, Caramitru had addressed Dinescu, saying, "Mircea, fă-te că lucrezi!" ( "Mircea, pretend you are working!" ); this version of events may have started asdefamationby political adversaries, with the purpose of indicating that the Revolution was a carefully staged front for acoup d'état.[12]According toAlex Mihai Stoenescu's research, despite its passing into contemporary folklore, such a phrase was never uttered; instead, the words used were "Mircea, arăți că lucrezi" ( "Mircea, show that you are working on something" — while holding Dinescu's booklet in front of camera), to which Dinescu replied "La un apel" ( "[I'm working] on an appeal [to the people]" ) — pointing rather to their ill-preparedness and their preoccupation in quickly drafting a proper document.[11]

FSN and CDR

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He was an early member of theNational Salvation Front(FSN) Council, the government formed aroundIon Iliescu,where he was in charge of Culture. In February 1990, after the FSN had become a political party,[13]he withdrew from the body in protest, arguing that the Iliescu grouping was attempting to use executive power and prestige in order to monopolize power (the gesture was preceded by the resignation of otherintellectualspresent in the FSN Council, includingDoina CorneaandAna Blandiana).[14]Already a member of theCivic Alliance Foundation,he joined theNational Peasants' Party,which engaged in opposition to the FSN, and became Minister of Culture after the CDR coalition won theelections of 1996.[1]

Following the defeat in the2000 electionsand the party's breakup, he remained a member of the main PNȚ wing, theChristian-Democratic People's Party(PPCD). Caramitru opposed the PPCD leaderGheorghe Ciuhanduon several grounds, including the merger with theUnion for Romanian Reconstruction;[15]he advocated a reconciliation with former president Constantinescu,[15]and was among the PPCD members to declare themselves alarmed by the possibility ofIoan Talpeșjoining the party (Talpeș, who had left the PSD, had served as head of theRomanian Foreign Intelligence Servicein 1992–1997).[16]In February 2006, he handed in his resignation as vice-president of the PPCD.[15]

Other causes

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In the early 1990s, arguing that the granting of revolutionary diplomas and privileges had become an instrument ofcorruption,Caramitru, together with other revolutionaries and dissidents (Victor Rebengiuc,Dan Pavel,Radu Filipescu,andCostică Canacheu), formed thenon-governmental organizationAsociația Revoluționarilor fără Privilegii(the Association of Non-Privileged Revolutionaries).[17]

A noted figure within the Aromanian community, Caramitru was a member of theMacedo-Romanian Cultural Society,which involved itself in debates withComunitatea Aromână din România(CAR): Caramitru and his supporters argued that Aromanians are a branch of theRomanians,whereas CAR campaigns for their recognition as anethnic minority(withautomatic representationin theParliament of Romania).[18]

In 2006, during a visit inMoldova,Caramitru claimed thatMoldova is still a part of Romania,leading to a diplomatic row between Romania and Moldova and Caramitru being declared apersona non gratain Moldova.[19][20]

Awards and recognition

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For his work in establishing British-Romanian cultural links, Caramitru was named an Officer of theOrder of the British Empire.[8][21]In 1997, the FrenchMinistry of Cultureawarded him the title ofChevalier des Arts et des Lettres.[8]

Honours

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National and Royal decorations

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Death

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Caramitru died on 5 September 2021, aged 79, in the Elias Hospital, Bucharest.[8][26]Following the news, theRoyal House of Romaniaissued a statement with condolences, calling him "a devoted and courageous defender of the principles and values of the Crown".[27][28]

Filmography

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Selected films

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Citizen X Tatevsky[29] TV movie
2004 Adam and Paul Eastern European Man[30]
2013 Charlie Countryman Victor Ibanescu[31][32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdcs2-admin (8 March 2016)."When Hamlet Is in Charge – An Interview with Ion Caramitru, Romanian Actor, Director and General Manager of the National Theater in Bucharest".Critical Stages/Scènes critiques.Retrieved5 September2021.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^"Ea este soția lui Ion Caramitru. Micaela Caracas e actriță".Gândul(in Romanian). 5 September 2021.Retrieved5 September2021.
  3. ^"Marele artist Ion Caramitru ar fi împlinit 80 de ani!".Arumun(in Romanian). 10 March 2022.
  4. ^Anghel, Simona (2 June 2013)."ION CARAMITRU, la Constanța:" O idee stupidă că aromânii nu sunt români! "".Cuget Liber Constanța(in Romanian).
  5. ^"Ion Caramitru, de la" Hamlet "la șefia Teatrului Național București".Libertatea(in Romanian). 5 September 2021.Retrieved5 September2021.
  6. ^Stefanova, Kalina (16 July 2014).Eastern European Theatre After the Iron Curtain.Routledge.ISBN978-1-134-42562-4.
  7. ^Heritage, P. P. (1996).In Contact With the Gods?: Directors Talk Theatre.Manchester University Press.ISBN978-0-7190-4763-3.
  8. ^abcdefghijkl"Ion Caramitru | National Theatre Bucharest".tnb.ro.Retrieved5 September2021.
  9. ^"Ion Caramitru".IMDb.Retrieved5 September2021.
  10. ^Adorjan, Istvan (31 March 2019).National Conspirations for Stifling Elizabeth Adam As a Terrestrial Extraterrestrial Historical Personality(Second ed.). Istvan Adorjan.
  11. ^abStoenescu
  12. ^Preda; Stoenescu
  13. ^"Pagina de istorie: Transformarea în partid a Frontului Salvării Naționale"(in Romanian). 23 January 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 9 February 2021.Retrieved6 September2021.
  14. ^Bozóki; Roșca Stănescu
  15. ^abc"Caramitru se cere..."
  16. ^Brăileanu, "Țărănistul Ioan Talpeș"
  17. ^Brăileanu, "Disidență..."
  18. ^Herța
  19. ^"Autoritățile Moldovei acuză din nou România",BBC,5 December 2006
  20. ^"Caramitru: „Băsescu ar trebui să-i răspundă lui Voronin” ",Evenimentul Zilei,13 April 2009
  21. ^"SHAKESPEARE'S POETRY | ICR London".icr-london.co.uk.Retrieved5 September2021.
  22. ^"Actorul și regizorul român Ion Caramitru a devenit Doctor Honoris Causa al AMTAP din Chișinău".moldpres.md.Retrieved6 September2021.
  23. ^Crucea Casei Regale a României.Familiaregala.ro. Retrieved on 22 February 2017.
  24. ^"Ion Caramitru, la 75 de ani, decorat de preşedintele Iohannis cu Ordinul Naţional" Steaua României "în grad de Cavaler".adevarul.ro.9 March 2017.Retrieved6 September2021.
  25. ^"Ion Caramitru decorated by the Japanese Ambassador with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Ribbon".Nine O' Clock.13 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 6 September 2021.Retrieved6 September2021.
  26. ^"Actor Ion Caramitru died on Sunday, at 79 years of age".actmedia.eu.Retrieved6 September2021.
  27. ^"Ion Caramitru, In Memoriam | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania".Retrieved6 September2021.
  28. ^"Ion Caramitru a murit. Mesajul familiei regale a României: A fost un devotat și curajos apărător al principilor și valorilor Coroanei".digi24.ro(in Romanian).Retrieved6 September2021.
  29. ^Citizen X (TV Movie 1995) - IMDb,retrieved5 September2021
  30. ^Adam & Paul (2004) - IMDb,retrieved5 September2021
  31. ^Charlie Countryman (2013) - IMDb,retrieved5 September2021
  32. ^Lowe, Justin (22 January 2013)."The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman: Sundance Review".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved5 September2021.

Bibliography

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Government offices
Preceded by Minister of Culture of Romania
12 December 1996 – 28 December 2000 		Succeeded by
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