It was November of 2015 when I've heard the news. I was recovering from my failure to commit to university that year. I told my parents I will try again next autumn. That I will return stronger. We were all clinging on hope--until that day when we realized we had more hope than we knew what to do with. We were not burned, or worse, in a Romanian hospital.
Alexander Nanau's documentary must be preserved. Not entirely because of its insight, but as an example of systemic penetration and the unraveling of information, thoughts and methods in dealing with the aftermath of one of my country's most embarrassing and horrific tragedy. Unlike most documentaries, "Collective" does not feature the usual insider talking in front of a fixed camera, guiding us through the timeline. This is because anyone who was involved with that disaster was a possible culprit. Corruption runs deep in Romania, and even though I grew up with an awareness of the evil of the powers that be, the discoveries here still surprised me.
Instead, the movie follows a team of investigative journalists from Romania's Sports Gazette--Razvan Lutac, Mirela Neag and the spearhead, Catalin Tolontan--as they work to unravel the whodunits surrounding this disaster. Nanau's raw filmmaking portrays a reality devout of any uncalled for artistic artifice or a cry for mercy. But paradoxically, reality conveys the most powerful emotions. I am glad that Nanau took a step back and let these people tell their stories and do their work--and a dangerous one at that. To get an idea of how powerful the mob in this country is, know that the director agreed to leave all the footage he recorded at the Gazette newsroom during the filming period in order to protect the journalists and whistleblowers. This movie was a monument to journalism, even before knowing this. But the Sports Gazette?
Of course that was the magazine that took the story in. Who else but sports writers are the men of the people? Sports journalists lack pretentions and have a knack for directness--not to even mention: formality be damned! Everywhere else: television, the authorities--were not to be trusted. Yet what surprisingly was to be trusted, was the government.
After heavy protests, the government was replaced with technocracy. Of course, Nanau did not miss the opportunity to follow the newly elected minister of health right in his back yard as he was consulting on what to do next. This was not your average corrupt politician. He was prepared to fight the good fight, but the amount of cleaning up to be done was simply too much. Nevertheless, it gave me and the entire country much needed hope. Nanau understands that the people and the government must not fight against each other, but must work together. But also that change takes time and patience.
For me, the patience paid its due--I am almost done with university now. As for my country, I am still waiting...
Alexander Nanau's documentary must be preserved. Not entirely because of its insight, but as an example of systemic penetration and the unraveling of information, thoughts and methods in dealing with the aftermath of one of my country's most embarrassing and horrific tragedy. Unlike most documentaries, "Collective" does not feature the usual insider talking in front of a fixed camera, guiding us through the timeline. This is because anyone who was involved with that disaster was a possible culprit. Corruption runs deep in Romania, and even though I grew up with an awareness of the evil of the powers that be, the discoveries here still surprised me.
Instead, the movie follows a team of investigative journalists from Romania's Sports Gazette--Razvan Lutac, Mirela Neag and the spearhead, Catalin Tolontan--as they work to unravel the whodunits surrounding this disaster. Nanau's raw filmmaking portrays a reality devout of any uncalled for artistic artifice or a cry for mercy. But paradoxically, reality conveys the most powerful emotions. I am glad that Nanau took a step back and let these people tell their stories and do their work--and a dangerous one at that. To get an idea of how powerful the mob in this country is, know that the director agreed to leave all the footage he recorded at the Gazette newsroom during the filming period in order to protect the journalists and whistleblowers. This movie was a monument to journalism, even before knowing this. But the Sports Gazette?
Of course that was the magazine that took the story in. Who else but sports writers are the men of the people? Sports journalists lack pretentions and have a knack for directness--not to even mention: formality be damned! Everywhere else: television, the authorities--were not to be trusted. Yet what surprisingly was to be trusted, was the government.
After heavy protests, the government was replaced with technocracy. Of course, Nanau did not miss the opportunity to follow the newly elected minister of health right in his back yard as he was consulting on what to do next. This was not your average corrupt politician. He was prepared to fight the good fight, but the amount of cleaning up to be done was simply too much. Nevertheless, it gave me and the entire country much needed hope. Nanau understands that the people and the government must not fight against each other, but must work together. But also that change takes time and patience.
For me, the patience paid its due--I am almost done with university now. As for my country, I am still waiting...