AllMovie

Romanian filmmaker, actor, production and costume designer Liviu Ciulei simultaneously attended the Institute of Architecture and the Conservatoire of Dramatic Arts in Bucharest, graduating from both in 1946. He began working in the theater as a set and costume designer later that same year. In 1951, Ciulei acted in his first film, In Sat La Noi /In Our Village; he made his directorial debut in 1957 with Eruptia/The Eruption. It was an auspicious debut, and though Ciulei only made three films, he became renowned as a director of psychological dramas. After 1965, Ciulei turned his interests toward the stage and established an international reputation for the excellence of his productions. He then continued to appear occasionally in feature films, prior to his death in late 2011 at the age of 88.