Screening: A virtual ride on ‘Orient Express’
The Romanian movie plays at Cinepax.
The Pakistan-Romania Friendship Association (PRFA) hosted a viewing of the Romanian movie Orient Express at Rawalpindi’s Cinepax theatre on Thursday. It was PRFA’s first activity since its recent revival, which was done to maintain and develop the relationship between the two countries through social and cultural events. The movie was a step towards introducing, sharing and promoting the culture of Romania in Pakistan.
Orient Express is set in 1935 in Romania. Prince Andrei Morudzi, the last descendant of an aristocratic family, has spent 16 years living in total isolation in his old castle in Moruzeni town, after spending most of his fortune on travelling, gambling and parties during his agitated youth.
His loneliness, which is comforted only by his trusted servant Costache, is disturbed by the ghosts of his past, the memories of his youth, and the compulsive desire to ride his horse to the nearby railroad every day, just to see the Orient Express train, which he frequently took to Paris in his youth.
Due to his strange attitude towards life and his exquisite manners, which do not fit the lifestyle of the villagers, he is looked upon as a rare bird by the local people.
Trying to regain a normal life, the prince comes in contact with some families from a neighbouring town, and unintentionally, creates a drama. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic community, along with a few politicians, and members of the corporate world.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2011.