The Paper Will Be Blue

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Audience Member I have not seen too many Romanian flicks, but I've seen two very good ones, some mediocre ones and some poorer efforts. This is not a war film, but there are conflicts as we enter the last days of the Ceausescu regime - a Communist politician of Romania. There are soliders in the streets and people are rioting. One solider decides to ditch his mission and join the people in stead. He get's in trouble, and now there are more than just chaos on screen - there's a guy we care for that's in trouble. Shaky cam makes sure that it's like someone is observing. The viewer are really invited to the town of Bucharest. It's gripping, direct and very real. Neat acting and great dialogues makes this a very solid film that's telling the important and historical story that changed a country. So I guess this is the third very good Romanian flick I've seen. 8.5 out of 10 gypsy jackets. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Was it a revolution? Was it a coup? Who was in control? Was it the military? Was it the armed militia? Nobody really knows actually. But what we do know is that the events depicted in this movie - which took place more than 16 years ago - changed the history of a country. The film tells the story of a young militia force soldier on the night the alleged Romanian revolution takes place. He is young, he is a bit confused, a bit enthusiastic, a bit scared. Yet he decides to disobey his superior and go fight on the side of the people to protect the national television headquarters against the terrorists. Soon after he leaves, his mates decide to abandon their patrolling mission and go in search of him. But somewhere along the way, things turn terribly wrong. For everybody. Because there is fighting on the streets, because its dark and its cold, because nobody knows whose supposed to fight who, where everybody else is (as the soldier, Cristi, never gets to the TV headquarters), who the terrorists are, what the recognition password is... The characters all seem to fit so well with the general confusion but also adding compassion and humor to the whole story that one might think this is almost a documentary of real events. Of course, this is achieved through an attention for detail that only those familiar with Romania would truly appreciate. But do not let that put you off; the real message of this film has nothing to do with specific issues and humor transcends borders. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member ??????? 28 ????? > ???????? 22 ?????? 89 Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Romanian cinema is the best. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member After the fall of communism in Romania, civilians are encouraged to fight and protect a local TV station. One soldier leaves his group to fight with them. Like many Romanian films of late, this film has strong historical and social value to Romania. And like other Romanian films I have seen, not a lot happens. I mean that in the sense of actual events. A lot of this film is set in the back of a truck. Unfortunately, I also found this film to be the least engaging and the least accessible. 12:08 East of Bucharest, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and The Death of Mr. Lazarescu were all instant classics and in among the best films of the last 10 years. I think the dark and pale cinematography, lead me to become tired and bored of the subject going on. A lot of it is interesting, but the beginning/end didn't carry the emotional impact I have come to expect from the Romanian New Wave. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member An interesting look at the emotions and the confusion surrounding the first night of the Romanian revolution of Dec '89, the night that put a nail in communism's coffin and brought with it the downfall of a cruel dictatorship. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Paper Will Be Blue

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