An Unforgettable Summer (O vara de neuitat)

An Unforgettable Summer (O vara de neuitat) French theatrical release poster Country Romania France Directed by Lucian Pintilie Release Date 1994 Language Romanian Studio MK2 Productions La Sept Cinema Distributor MK2 Main Cast Character Actor Marie-Thérèse Von Debretsy Kristin Scott Thomas Capt. Petre Dumitriu Claudiu Bleont Mme. Vorvoreanu Olga Tudorache Gen. Tchilibia George Constantin Gen. Ipsilanti Marcel Iures Serban Lescari Ion Pavlescu Lt. Turtureanu Razvan Vasilescu

An Unforgettable Summer (Romanian title O vara de neuitat, French title Un été inoubliable) is a 1994 Romanian-French drama directed by Lucian Pintilie and based on a novel by Petru Dumitriu. The plot is set in 1925 in Romania. Marie-Therese Von Debretsy (Kristin Scott Thomas), the Hungarian-born aristocrat married to Capt. Petre Dumitriu (Claudiu Bleont), refuses the advances of her husband's commanding officer. As a result, Capt. Dumitriu is transferred in an outpost in Southern Dobruja, the border area mostly populated with Bulgarians and Macedonians who constantly arise against Romanian administration.

The following weapons were used in the film An Unforgettable Summer (O vara de neuitat):

Handguns

Nagant M1895

Capt. Petre Dumitriu's (Claudiu Bleont) sidearm is a Nagant M1895 revolver. While Nagants were not a standard service handgun of the Romanian Army, a large number of these revolvers was obtained from the dissolving Russian Army in 1917. Lt. Turtureanu (Razvan Vasilescu) carries a revolver holster, same as Capt. Dumitriu's one, and grip of his gun can be seen.

Nagant M1895 Revolver - 7.62x38R Nagant. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.

Lt. Turtureanu carries a revolver in holster. The grip with lanyard ring is seen.

Capt. Dumitriu carries the revolver holster.

Insulted by his superiors, humiliated Dumitriu intends to shoot himself.

Another view of the same scene.

SPSh Flare Pistol

During the operation against Macedonian Komitadji (guerrilla), Capt. Dumitriu holds a flare pistol. It is seen only partially but still may be identified as an SPSh Flare Pistol.

SPSh Flare Pistol - 26.5 mm

Capt. Dumitriu holds the flare pistol.

Rifles

Vz.24 Czech Mauser

Romanian soldiers are armed with Vz.24 Czech Mauser rifles (Romanian contract version known as vz. 24s). In reality this rifles were adopted by Romanian military only in 1938 while in 1925 the service rifle was the Mannlicher M1893, as well as a number of former German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian rifles.

Czech vz. 24 - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Romanian contract vz. 24s differs in details.

Soldiers with rifles on march.

A soldier at the left holds a Vz.24 rifle during the hunt for Komitadji in a swampy area.

Another view of same soldier's rifle. The straight bolt handle is seen.

A soldier, guarding arrested Bulgarian peasants, drives away the wife of the one of the arrestees.

Karabiner 98k

Some Mauser rifles of the Romanian soldiers are Karabiner 98k.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Manufactured in Germany, 1937.

Soldiers with Karabiner 98k rifles. The handguards are shorter than on Vz.24 rifles.

A sentry carries a Karabiner 98k. This is a wartime version with simplified barrel bands.

Machine Guns

Unidentified machine gun

When Capt. Dumitriu's unit leaves the outpost at night, a machine gun on a horse cart is seen. The general look of the gun resembles Schwarzlose but it's a very vague guess.

Schwarzlose M.07/12 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher.

The machine gun is seen. While it bears some resemblance with Schwarzlose, the barrel seems to be placed different.

Trivia

In one scene Lt. Turtureanu holds an incredibly anachronistic knife bayonet - a Romanian version of Soviet 6Kh4, adopted for PA md. 86 assault rifle sixty years later than the movie plot is set.

Lt. Turtureanu holds the knife bayonet, describing in detail the horrible death of Captain's predecessor in hands of the Komitadji.