Pitesti Experiment

If I have not succeeded through my articles and my direct experiences with the Romanian State reported on my blog as a free journalist and investigative sociologist in Romania to convince you that Romania is a Discreet Dictatorship and not a real democracy, surely the director of the film "The Pitesti Experiment", Victoria Baltag (My God, what a name! Reminds me of Vitoria Lipan from Baltagul; she seems like a woman destined from birth to carry the mission of bringing justice to the victims of communism even after death).

Victoria Baltag's film is recognized by the free critics in Romania as the film of the year 2023. But not by the Ministry of Culture and the Romanian State through its various cultural institutions, who refused to support the movie for the simple fact that today's politicians of the Single Party (PSD, PNL and their satellites AUR and SOS) in Romania, the children of those who caused the drama presented in the film The Pitesti Experiment, do not want to put their parents-torturers or just nomenclaturists of communism with the role of witnesses or even instigators at the time, in the embarrassing situation of having to remember the acts of cruelty described in the film.

I think this film is important for the culture of every Romanian, both of those who lived the harsh experience of communism but only later learned of its extent, just as the world learned about the horrors of Nazism and the Holocaust only after World War II, as well as of the young people who had no chance to know this dark side of Romania's recent history because today's descendants of yesterday's torturers rather wanted to hide the collective drama and trauma of this people linked to communism and communists. A drama which, as you will understand from Victoria Baltag's words, but also from my articles, is continued, even if discreetly, by the children of the communists who rule Romania today.

So I invite you to see this film which promises to be memorable and then write your honest and undisguised opinions about it on Facebook, where even in a discreet dictatorship like Romania, Freedom of Expression is still full.

Enjoy your viewing!

I've seen the movie and wanted to say a few words while it's fresh in my memory.

Given the budget and the notoriety of the actors involved, I'd say it's a decent attempt to re-create the historical facts behind the real "Pitesti experiment".

It's not meant to be politically correct nor it does so. I would like to praise the performance of the actor that was cast as the leading role, he did a pretty good job to get inside the part. It shows perfectly how one can become just a tool of the regime when the self-preservation instinct becomes the only thing that drives their actions.

There are some scenes where the dialogue seems a bit sub-par or clumsy, but I think,overall, it manages to build upon and puts the viewer in the unsettling landscape of the prison horrors that occured back then. Some prison scenes are really hard to watch and will give some anxiety even to the toughest mind.

On a side note, this topic remains a dreadful page on Romania's history to this day, having left the main voices responsible for these horrors unaccounted for and unpunished.

"The Pitesti Experiment" is undoubtedly a film worth watching, not only for its profound theme and emotional impact but also for the impressive effort of the team that made this project possible. It stands as a tribute to our recent history and a testament to the human sacrifice in the face of unimaginable atrocities.

What makes this film truly remarkable is the fact that it was self-funded. The people who worked on it spent years conducting thorough research, poured their hearts and souls into it, and worked tirelessly to faithfully depict the horrors of communist prisons. Every detail, from the set design to the performances, reflects the passion and dedication of the team.

As the final film of the late maestro Ion Caramitru, The Pitesti Experiment becomes even more precious, serving as an artistic testament to an exceptional career. Additionally, Sergiu Flesner delivers a memorable performance, contributing to the authenticity and emotional intensity of the story. Filming in the city of Iasi adds extra value, showcasing locations that have witnessed history.

This film is more than a cinematic production - it is a history lesson, an invitation to reflection, and a tribute to the memory of those who suffered in the name of freedom. It deserves all our appreciation and support!

Since the meeting with Francisc Ford Copolla (in 2007) I have never seen so much pasture, rigor in documentation, attention to details, enthusiasm and emotion well controlled by the authority of the consciousness of one's own value in a director. A MAN and a Genius (I own the terms) whom I had the chance to meet in Suceava, along with the screening of her film about the Pitesti experiment that began (the climax), in Suceava.

The public still knows very little about the terrible Pitesti Experiment, in which some political prisoners were turned against others and the latter went through unimaginable tortures. Books and studies were written, but it was not enough. To fill this gap, 12 years ago, a very young director, Victoria Baltag, started an ambitious project, without any funding.

In 2015, he managed to make an artistic film without a budget, in which the late great actor Ion Caramitru also participated, in what would be his last role in a feature film.

From then until now, the director and her team of volunteers went with the film on a national tour, in 44 places, but she was also invited to Mexico, Canada and the USA. Every time he presented in an exhibition the objects he managed to collect: three paintings made by the prisoner Fag Negrescu after he managed to survive the inferno in Pitesti, numerous other paintings donated by contemporary artists because from the money obtained in following their sale to be able to help the project, works of art by the director, photos and objects from the filming, a necklace donated to Iasi by the journalist Lucian Merisca, the son of Constantin Merisca, a former political prisoner in Pitesti.

At the end of August, the first edition of the tournament ended in Bucharest, for a little while because the second tournament of 2023 is going to start this fall and has at its center objects of the young people who went through the Pitesti Experiment.

De la intalnirea cu Francisc Ford Copolla (in 2007)nu am mai vazut la un regizor atata pasture, rigoare in documentare,atentie la detalii, entuziasm si emotie bine controlata prin autoritatea constiintei propriei valori. Un OM si un Geniu (am proprietatea termenilor) pe care am avut sansa sa-l intalnesc la Suceava, odata cu proiectia filmului ei despre experimentul de la Pitesti care a inceput (culmea), la Suceava.

Despre cumplitul Experiment Pitesti, in care unii detinuti politici au fost asmutiti impotriva celorlalti si acestia din urma au trecut prin tortúri inimaginabile, publicul stie inca destul de putine. S-au scris carti si studii, dar n-a fost suficient. Pentru a umple acest gol, acum 12 ani, o foarte tanara regizoare, Victoria Baltag, a pornit un proiect ambitios, fara nici o finantare.

In 2015, a reusit sa realizeze un film artistic fara buget, la care a participat si regretatul mare actor Ion Caramitru, in ceea ce avea sa fie ultimul lui rol intr-un lungmetraj.

De-atunci si pana acum, regizoarea si echipa ei de voluntari au mers cu filmul intr-un turneu national, in 44 de locuri, dar a fost si invitata in Mexic, Canada si SUA. De fiecare data a prezentat intr-o expozitie si obiectele pe care a reusit sa le adune: trei tablouri realizate de detinutul Fag Negrescu dupa ce a reusit sa supravietuiasca infernului de la Pitesti, numeroase alte tablouri donate de artisti contemporani pentru ca din banii rezultati in urma vanzarii lor sa poata ajuta proiectul, lucrari de arta ale regizoarei, fotografii si obiecte de la filmari, o cerga daruita la Iasi de jurnalostul Lucian Merisca, fiul lui Constantin Merisca, fost detinut politic la Pitesti.

La sfarsit de august 2023, prima editie a turneului s-a incheiat la Bucuresti, pentru putina vreme caci al doilea turneu al anului 2023 urmeaza sa inceapa chiar in aceasta toamna si are in centrul ei obiecte ale tinerilor care au trecut prin Experimentul Pitesti.