Three Romanian films were placed in a learning-focused context, designed to encourage dialogue and critical reflection rather than passive viewing. Three internationally awarded films were screened:
- Metronom, directed by Alexandru Belc – an exploration of adolescence under 1970s communism;
- Libertate, directed by Tudor Giurgiu – a dramatic reconstruction of the events of the 1989 Revolution;
- and Fotografii Însângerate, directed by Copel Moscu – a documentary about the Iași Pogrom and the memory of the Holocaust.
Metronom, directed by Alexandru Belc, explores adolescence in 1970s Romania, where personal freedom collides with the pressures of a surveillance-driven communist system. Centered on a group of teenagers, the film captures everyday rebellion and vulnerability, showing how political control seeps into private life.
Libertate, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, revisits the days following the 1989 Revolution, focusing on the confusion, fear, and moral uncertainty that defined the collapse of the regime. Rather than offering a heroic narrative, the film reconstructs events through fragmented perspectives, highlighting how chaos and misinformation shaped a decisive moment in recent history.
The post-screening discussions featured Adrian Cioflancă, Marian Țuțui, Șerban Lazarovici, and Copel Moscu, moderated by Adina Popescu (writer and journalist at Dilema magazine) and Corina Negrea (Radio România Cultural). Rather than presenting a fixed interpretation of the past, the project focused on inquiry. Students were encouraged to consider multiple perspectives and to reflect on the relationship between historical facts, memory, and narrative.
“The Screen of Memory festival was held in November 2025 at the Freedom House Romania’s initiative, a non-governmental organization promoting democracy, the rule of law, press freedom, and the strengthening of civil society.
Testimonies and historical references were used sparingly, allowing the images themselves to dri
ve much of the reflection. The film avoids dramatisation, maintaining a restrained tone that emphasises observation over emotional manipulation. This distance encourages viewers to engage critically rather than reactively.