Stefania Marghitu, Indiana University
This paper deals with the nominal "Romanian New Wave" movement that emerged in the mid 2000s. The films come from a generation of directors that address issues of national identity before and after the fall of communism in 1989, with the overthrow of dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. The stories focus on individual characters and the everyday effects of the dictator's reign. Specifically, this paper analyzes two films set in the final years of the regime that tackle different aspects of life in communist Romania.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days follows a young college student and her roommate who must have an illegal abortion upon her unplanned pregnancy, as all forms of birth control were illegal. Issues of lack of privacy and fear of persecution permeate the young women. The film is both stunning and shocking due to its detachment and lack of sentimentality, as the procedure is a necessary survival skill rather than a moral or ethical choice.
The Way I Spent the End of the World is centered on the socialist education system and the repercussions of the smallest act of dissent. A small suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of Bucharest serves as a microcosm for the Romanian population, with the Securitate (Romanian Secret Police, akin to Soviet KGB) as the dictator’s watchdogs. Once again, privacy is limited and life is dominated by the desires of the dictator.
These Romanian New Wave directors received critical acclaim for their first films as well several significant awards at Cannes Film Festival. In the past few years, the initial "buzz" faded yet the small group of directors continue to make honest films that confront the common identity crisis that Romanian citizens deal with in understanding the country's history and transition to a capitalist society.