Romanians in the World – Catinca Untaru

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I cannot speak about The Fall without speaking of this wonderful child – Catinca Untaru. As small as she is (she’s only 11), she’s definitely making my Romanians in the World category!
Catinca was born in Bucharest, Romania on March 21st, 1997, the only one child of Untaru family. When she was three years old she confessed to her grandparents that she would like to became a theatre actress waiting for people to give her flowers on a stage. From the early age she was fascinated by fantasy stories and legends. She started to take English lessons at the age of 4 and her teacher, a former Romanian flight attendant , noticed her interest and started to tell her stories about countries and customs to keep her focused. Sooner she was talking English with different accents. She ran against hundreds of children from all over the world for the part, she didn’t fit the initial character’s description and she almost didn’t make it to her airplane. These were just a few of the obstacles that Catinca Untaru had to overcome in order to become Alexandria, the main character in Tarsem Singh’s “The Fall”.

Some might see her story a Romanian mission impossible but for Catinca it was all in a day’s, or better said, in two years’ work. It is said that when you are on a mission, the whole Universe conspires for your success. If this is the case, then it was clearly Catinca Untaru’s mission to become the first Romanian child to star in a international film. Right from the start, her discovery has consisted of a series of fortunate coincidences. At first, it was the recommendation of one of her former teachers that lead talent agent Andreea Tanasescu to her. Then, an incredible audition with the director of The Cell, Tarsem Singh during which Catinca managed to switch back and forth between reality and fantasy without the slightest degree of effort. Catinca managed to convince Tarsem that she was the right child for the part of Alexandria. Finally, one day before she was scheduled to leave for South Africa and everybody thought everything was going smoothly, Catinca and her mother had to get new visas for South Africa from neighboring Hungary. People were rushed in and out of Romania in order to get the new visas but, in the end, everything turned out fine. With quite a serious face for a 10 year old, Untaru says that she enjoyed filming for The Fall and that her favorite part of the whole experience have been the costumes designed by Oscar award winner Eiko Ishioka.

At one point, there was a hint of jealousy on Catinca’s behalf because of one of her stand in’s- Emma- costume, a long wavy skirt but it was soon forgotten in the thrill of the shoot. Since the whole script was never revealed to Catinca, as she started shooting for The Fall she was constantly kept on her toes, her interest alert, about the story. She thus managed to become an active part of the action. Ruxandra, Catinca’s mother recalls that she would be Catinca in her hotel apartment but would immediately switch to Alexandria when she was the set. Catinca says that being a part of the cast of “the Fall” allowed her to see countries and learn about customs. Something she would have never been able to do had she not been a part of the Fall. As the shooting took place in more than 20 locations around the world, Catinca was most impressed with India. Upon her return in Romania, she said, “India is like a beautiful woman whose eyes you can’t see.” Questioned further about her statement, Catinca said, “You can only see its eyes when you get to know it better.”

Although quite mature for her age, Catinca still enjoys playing with her dolls and, most of all her friends. When she was filming for The Fall , her biggest wish was to come back home and be able to play with her friends whom she was missing dearly. She likes to read books, to write stories and maybe to do movies in one day. Now, almost 3 years after filming ended, Catinca goes to school and is head of class. She says that her biggest adventure, actually her self- titled “mission impossible” has been taking the grade register from the teacher’s lounge to her class when her English teacher asked her to. Catinca’s career is a group effort to say the least, and changes the lives of all who are involved. It is nothing short of love and passion that keep it all going! Currently she is working in a Romanian experimental media project called “10″ where a group of kids are planning to do a movie. It is a mix of reality and fantasy production inspired from her story.

Isn’t it absolutely wonderful to hear children still have astonishing imagination and ability to deliver roles as if they were caught in a game of reality themselves? If Catinca was more than once compared to Shirley Temple this is a good reason to make both her parents and herself feel proud.

I’m telling you, honestly, lately I’ve been more impressed with pre-teen actors performances (see Freddie Highmore – my favorite, Haley Joel Osment, Abigail Breslin, Dakota Fanning and so on) than with mature actors performances. And this is a good sign!

With the help of imdb.com

Comments (19)

Am vazut si eu spotul la Pro acum cateva zile si m-am bucurat ca fetita e romanca. Ce bine! Felicitari parintilor! Am vazut ca e si foarte isteata, cred si eu ca Tarsem a facut cea mai buna alegere!

it is a great step for such a little girl :P

Bravo!

abia astept sa apara si in Romania filmul The Fall. Catinca a facut un rol exceptional:) Te face sa simti emotia povestii vazuta prin ochii ei. Merita un ropot de aplauze la scena larga: in mare parte visul i s-a implinit mai devreme decat a sperat.

i can wait for this movie to appear here in Romania. I believe that Catinca made an exceptional act:) You can feel the emontion in the story seen through her eyes.
She deserves a lot of applauses on a big scene:her dream became true earlier that si believed.

@ monara: I like the way you commented. Bilingually. :D
@ mire: it is, isn’t it?

I saw The Fall last Sunday. It is the best film I have ever seen, and I have seen many hundreds of excellent films over the years. Catinca Untaru deserves an Oscar for Best Child Actress! And if the movie itself does not receive several awards, something is seriously wrong.
B. Ingersoll

Catinca Untaru is an excellent actress. I could not believe how well this child can act! Her role in the move made me cry. I hope to see her in more films in the near future.

This child was phenomenal. She was without a doubt convincing in her character….she wasn’t “acting”…it was like I was in a room with them watching this fantasy unfold. The cinemaphotography was breath taking. Byfar the best movie I’ve seen in a very long time.

Thanks for your opinion, Victoria. It means a lot!

Whether the movie was great or not is up to personal opinion from each individual. But whether Cantica Untaru was the soul of the movie and one of the best child performances ever is undeniable. I am not one to write any sort of petition, but if I had to write one to support her being awarded and recognized on an international stage as Best Child Actress, I would! She deserves it! Thank you Cantica!

I agree, thank you, David. I just loved how she used to say “Hum?” :)

Here is the petition !!!

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?CatincaU&1

Let’s vote for Catinca. She deserve it.

Many thanks, my love and appreciation for all of you.

Andreea

Good luck, Cantinca! Well done, Andreea!

After watching The Fall, a cinematic wonder, I ran to my computer to read more about Cantica Untaru, a child actor who brought me to laughter and tears. Amazing! I hope she will appear in more films in the future.

I got my own copy of the Fall last week. Yes, she was so, good.

At least we have her performance forever to enjoy….

thanks Darianna….for the heads up.

I am an addict. I can’t stop watching her! She is adorable.

wonderfull!!! after watcing the movie, i just wanted to find out more about the girl…shes so natural its like she wasnt even trying

I have never seen a better childhood actress! The director of the movie was genius by how he kept our little darling unaware of the plot in the movie! Her genuine reactions and acting were fantastic by this unique idea. The cinematography was very artist and beautiful. A wonderful work of art highlighted by the presence of Cantinca Untaru. May her life be charmed and her spirit guarded as a gift to all of mankind.

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