John Malkovich shoots new film in Romania, meets culture minister

American actor John Malkovich, present in Romania to shoot the film “The Yellow Tie,” met with the Romanian minister of culture, Raluca Turcan. The new production portrays the extraordinary life of the legendary classical music conductor Sergiu Celibidache, one of the most renowned but also one of the most controversial artists of the 20th century. Ben Schnetzer also stars in the new movie, alongside Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Sean Bean, and Charlie Rowe.

Minister Turcan announced on social media that she met with the production team of the film "The Yellow Tie." On this occasion, she also met with actor John Malkovich, who has a leading role in the new film, playing Celibidache in his later years.

During the meeting, the Romanian official emphasized that every film produced in Romania contributes to the international promotion of the Romanian cultural environment.

"Great actors are filming in Romania. It was a great honor for me to meet Mr. John Malkovich, who is currently filming in Romania alongside Miranda Richardson, Sean Bean, and Charlie Rowe, in a film about the life and career of the great conductor of Romanian origin, Sergiu Celibidache. Together with Her Excellency Kathleen Kavalec, the US Ambassador to Bucharest, and Mr. Serge Ioan Celibidachi, the film's director and the son of the renowned conductor, we had the opportunity to discuss extensively the enormous potential for growth in the Romanian film industry and the successful programs implemented in many European and US states," wrote Turcan on her Facebook page.

The minister also noted that the public consultation for the draft decision regarding the organization of the Office of Film and Cultural Investments was opened last week.

"I am committed to supporting the efforts to restart the funding scheme for film production in Romania, at international and competitive standards. In this regard, last week I published for public consultation the draft decision on the organization of the Office of Film and Cultural Investments, the first step towards creating an appropriate institutional framework," added the minister of culture.

"The Yellow Tie" follows the conductor's life from his childhood in Romania under the strict authority of a disciplinarian father to his painful escape from home to pursue his dream of a career in music. It depicts his struggle for survival in Germany during and after the war, his rise and fall in an unimaginable career and life spanning seven decades and all four corners of the globe.