Michael the Brave: the Construction of National Hero Myth in Cinematography

Abstract

In this article, I will present how the figure of the Wallachian Prince Michael the Brave was transformed into a modern national hero by means of cinematography. I will start with the assumption that the movies are efficient channels for the transmission of information about history and society, values for the promotion and consolidation of political ideologies. The communist regime of Nicolae Ceau
escu considered the cinematography as efficient weapon of propaganda. I will show how by means of two movies – Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave, 1971) and Buzduganul cu trei pecei (The mace with three seals, 1977) – the Prince of Wallachia was transformed into a modern national hero and the author of the Romanians` national unity dream. Although the myth of Michael the Brave national hero is older, probably the work of 19th century intellectual Nicolae Blcescu, during the communist regime the construction of Michael the Brave’s myth from nationalist perspective was a state policy, realized through the simplification and the distortion of history. The school books and the movies were efficient channels for the promotion of Michael the Brave’s myth from national-communist perspective.

Keywords

• nationalism
• ideology
• cinematography
• communism
• myth