The Cinematheque

“Giurgiu paints a realistic picture of revolutionary chaos and turmoil, questions the established narratives and, most importantly, makes a thrilling film.”

Marko Stojiljković, Cineuropa

Tudor Giurgiu’s powerful historical drama is set in the provincial town of Sibiu, Romania, during the 1989 revolution. The story unfolds in a world emerging from a dictator’s iron grip. As news of President Nicolae Ceaușescu’s fall filters in from Bucharest, shots ring out in the town; distinguishing between old enemies and friends is now a potentially life-threatening challenge. In a desperate attempt to escape the chaos, police captain Viorel (Alex Calangiu) and his fellow officers are captured by the army and thrown in the makeshift prison of an empty swimming pool. In their fight for survival, who’s really in charge? Giurgiu’s film masterfully captures an atmosphere of pervasive paranoia and delivers an intense collective drama that poses the question: who will emerge victorious in this historic duel that appears to have no rules?

In Romanian with English subtitles