Libertate

I have just had the privilege of seeing this tonight, at a pre-screening before the actual launch and I can say I was very happy and relieved to see these stories told so well and yet also not be a documentary, in spite of the mountains of research and effort that went into recreating some of the aspects depicted. Probably the best and most mature non-meta Romanian film.

Please go out and support it by seeing it in cinemas, starting October 6th - it's well worth it and it deserves to be seen if you're even remotely interested in Romanian films, history inspired stories - or, indeed, great movies in general!

"Freedom" or "Libertate" (2023), directed by Tudor Giurgiu and co-written by Cecilia Stefanescu, Tudor Giurgiu, and Nap Toader, stands out as a remarkable addition to the limited corpus of Romanian cinema that explores the events of December 1989 in Romania. At the age of 29, I experienced these historical moments firsthand while residing in neighboring Yugoslavia, where the "revolution" was broadcast continuously for 24 hours. Consequently, this film was essential for me to view.

The film successfully balanced various elements, including violence, humor, community, and political themes. The events of the 1989 revolution still remain shrouded in mystery, yet Tudor Giurgiu excelled in presenting most of the facts in a tangible manner. The casting was exemplary, and each line delivered was fluid, credible, and appropriate for the historical context. This film effectively transports the audience along the continuum of time and space, but more significantly, it delves into the psyches of the protagonists, raising profound questions about the significance of moral ethics and the ability to maintain one's integrity in a dystopian world rife with corruption.

It is my sincere hope that this film receives the acclaim it rightfully merits, as it stands as a true masterpiece.

📽 "Libertate" magnificently directed by Tudor Giurgiu and masterfully written by him together with Cecilia Stefanescu and Nap Toader, is a historical drama inspired by the great mystery behind the events of the dark days of December 1989 in Sibiu, where the fall of the communist regime leads to bloody confrontations between soldiers, policemen, civilian protesters and representatives of the secret police, all resulting in unprecedented chaos. This film really succeeds in transposing the audience in the time-space line, but more importantly in the minds of the protagonists, questioning more than ever the value of moral ethics and the power to keep yourself clean in a dystopia full of corruption.

🎞 A special characteristic of the story is the directorial and acting power to present a blurred overall picture, capable of connecting the narratives of different, doubtful perspectives, thus leading the audience to crucial moments where they even doubt the veracity of the protagonists...captive too in a world ruled by fear and lies. A psychological study of a fractured mindset imposed by the failed ideologies of a flawed system, but also an enchanting story designed to leave the audience with questions and personal analyses, quite recent events leaving us as spectators in the position of questioning our own inner revolution. A film that leaves its mark on the audience for a long time, truly a cinematic masterpiece, the opportunity to reflect and thus better understand the past and implicitly the future!

This movie is a technically well-done utter failure.

It exudes the hallmark of bad acting: actors shouting out their lines all the time. It presents the hallmark of a bad scenario: no conclusion, no catharsis.

I was there during that revolution. Everyone was trying to find out what would be next in for our destiny, if we'll end in the EU or the Russians will take over. People were trying to find out if their friends are alive, if they'll still have a job next day. Then came the summary process of the dictator on a Christmas Day (to be later followed by the Miner's revolts etc.). Nothing of this was a topic of the movie. A slapstic, one with a historically accurate scenography.

The marketing machine behind and the official endorsement made for a sold-out theatre. This is yet not on the same level with the new Romanian cinema which made a dent in the European cinema in previous years (4-3-2, Beyond the Hills, Aferim etc.). Not even on the same level with well-executed modern Romanian thrillers like Boss (2023).

The movie had the right amount of everything, be it violence, humour, community, or politics. The revolution of '89 has many secrets still, but the director and scenographer Tudor Giurgiu did a tremendous job in order to keep the facts palpable. The casting was perfect and every line was fluid, believable, accurate for the time in question. The metaphors used make it not only an action movie, but a psychological one, shaping every character, with flaws and faults. And still, at the end of it you pity and cry along them and start questioning yourself if you would have done things differently. I can only hope it receives the recognition it deserves, because it is a masterpiece.

(I saw it at a pre-screening. The premier is on the 6th of October)