Today in Sibiu the documentary about Ilie Nastase is launched, in the presence of the team

Ilie Năstase, known as the “bad boy of sports”, was often described by the international press as “magnificent”, “charming”, “temperamental” and “arrogant”. documentary NASTY, which will be released in cinemas across the country from April 16, explores the life and career of this legendary tennis player, the first number 1 in the history of the ATP ranking. The film brings to the fore the controversies that surrounded him and his influence on the world of tennis, featuring unprecedented archival footage and interviews with great athletes such as Rafael Nadal, Björn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Nadia Comaneci or Boris Becker. Also, NASTY also includes an exclusive interview with Phil Knightco-founder of Nike, who talks about his relationship with Năstase, the first professional athlete to sign a contract with the famous brand in 1972.

The documentary is directed by Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu and Tudor D. Popescu, being distributed by Transilvania Film. Among the producers NASTY is counted Cosmin Hodor (HDR Evolution) and Tudor Giurgiu (Libra Films), and is co-producer Hanka Kastelicová (Vice President & Executive Producers Documentaries HBO EMEA – HBO Max).

In 1972, Ilie Năstase won his first US Open and reached the Davis Cup and Wimbledon finals. An irresistible combination of talent, eccentricity and humor made of Nasty (the nickname given to him by the press) a real one showman admired by fans, commentators, but also by other athletes. After Năstase, tennis was never the same.

“Ilie Năstase on the pitch was fabulous. This young man from a communist country managed, in just a few years, to conquer the world with his talent and personality. We have been working on this project for 5 years, during which time we discovered impressive archives about Nastase’s career and life and had the chance to talk with sports superstars, people who were deeply influenced by him. I think that, in the end, our efforts will be seen on the big screen – a portrait of a complex character, always surprising, hard to define, who made history not only for Romania, but also for tennis.” Tudor Giurgiudirector and producer.

The first images from NASTY were launched on @nasty.themovie social media (Facebook, Instagram & TikTok). The poster of the film integrates a portrait of the tennis player created by the artist Roger Huyssen to illustrate an interview with Năstase that appeared in June 1977 US Playboy magazine.

“I was always fascinated by the lightness of Ilie Năstase on the field. And I caught it quite late, playing only demo matches. I grew up in a family with his name. Many tennis experts, including Björn Borg, say that only two players in history had a special grace: Năstase and Federer. When I also read Ilie’s autobiography, I decided to make this film. Now that it is ready, I realize that the superlatives used to describe it are not exaggerated at all. At times, he was even more popular than tennis itself.

This is what I would like the new generations to see in Nasty, – an inspirational figure who shook the world” Cosmin Hodorco-producer.

“I am very glad that we are the co-producers of this fascinating film about the life of Ilie Năstase – a legend of tennis, whose matches delighted my childhood and whose charisma on the court is still recognized today. The filmmakers skillfully portrayed the journey of this Eastern European athlete who pushed boundaries with his talent and personality, which earned him the nickname Nasty for his captivating and often controversial style. This film captures the essence of a true showman, reminding us of Nastase’s legacy and the mark he left on the world of tennis.”, says Hanka Kastelicová (Vice President & Executive Producers Documentaries HBO EMEA – HBO Max)

NASTY is produced by Libra Films and HDR Evolution in co-production with HBO and Romanian Television. Presented by The Ion Țiriac Foundation, Banca Transilvania, Dedeman, Superbpowered by MasterCard. The film is made with the support of Government of Romania, National Center of Cinematography, LIDL, Vodafone, Henkel Romania, CEC Bank, Regina Maria, HelpNet, Initative Media. Distributed by Transylvania Film.