docs for sale IDFA 2022

The Delta Of Bucharest

written and directed by Eva Pervolovici
documentary
2020
France/Romania
92 minutes
Romanian, French
Tags
Festivals
Synopsis

The history of a place, of the energy it gives off. In turn, monastery, prison, camp, natural park : the Delta of Bucharest becomes a « film space » where all the parallel lives materialize…

Crew
Actors Sandrine Bonnaire, Ada Condeescu
DoP Dominique Colin
Sound/Music Benoît Maerens
Editing Véronique Lagoarde-Ségot
production by MIDRALGAR (Marmitafilms)STRADA FILM INTERNATIONAL
Press
“Where the latter film would closely and immediately follow a suite of characters who are facing hardships, inspired by a socially activist ethos, The Delta of Bucharest unveils itself across time, performing a coming-and-going across the axis of memory, exploring – albeit at times insufficiently – the open possibilities of an essayistic form. Just as is the case of countless other essay-films, Eva Pervolovici’s impulse to investigate arises from both a personal desire that is anchored in her own biography, but also in a need of understanding, with a critical rebound, the bigger picture. Things are set into motion as the director, who is based in Paris, receives as a gift a tapestry woven by Lena Constante, a former detainee of the Vacaresti Prison.”
Victor Morozov, FILMS IN FRAME
“Eva Pervolovici propune o altă perspectivă, una memorialistică și personală. „Delta Bucureștiului” este un documentar în care se întrepătrund inventiv povestea locului, în special a fostei mănăstiri închisoare Văcărești, dărâmată de Ceaușescu, și dramele câtorva femei care au trecut prin fostul spațiu de detenție, unde au și născut, și care sunt acum intervievate (una dintre ele, chiar alături de fiica ei venită pe lume la închisoare).”
Ionuţ Mareş, ZIARUL METROPOLIS
“Cette plongée profonde dans la région et l'histoire de Văcăreşti est à la fois belle et cruelle, isolée et robuste. En tant que parc du 21ème siècle, Văcăreşti est représentatif de l'abondance naturelle de la Roumanie, une terre d'une beauté épique et d'une biodiversité. Pourtant, son histoire du 20e siècle est pleine de souffrances qui finissent par aboutir à l'incompétence flagrante de la dictature. Désormais, un rêve pour les défenseurs de l'environnement, les artistes et les architectes, Văcăreşti incarne le 21e siècle du Nouvel Orient - l'un d'un avenir meilleur et plus propre.”
Steve Rickinson, MODERN TIMES REVIEW
“À Bucarest, Ceausescu a laissé des traces dans la géographie de la ville et dans la mémoire des habitants du pays. Il existe un lieu improbable, un des plus anciens monastères d’Europe de l’est, transformé en prison politique pour femmes à l’époque communiste. Aujourd’hui une ruine entourée d’une immense friche, résultat de l’échec d’un projet mégalomaniaque de l’ancien despote. Des digues furent construites, une rivière détournée pour créer un lac et un parc de loisirs. Puis des inondations, des malfaçons ont eu raison du projet. Le delta est devenu friche, habitée par des familles Roms dans des cabanes, paradis des oiseaux et des batraciens. Eva Pervolovici, la réalisatrice, retrace la vie de ces détenues grâce aux témoignages de certaines d’entre elles. C’est une histoire tragique de naissance derrière les barreaux, de maladies, de destins brisés et de mort. Les familles gitanes qui vivent aujourd’hui sur le delta, en écho, racontent aussi des naissances, des vies en marges et des destins particuliers… jusqu’au moment de leur relogement dans des appartements au confort « moderne » pour faire du parc naturel Vacaresti une réserve de biodiversité. Le film oscille entre les témoignages d’anciennes détenues et la vie des enfants Roms dans le delta. Des histoires entremêlées, des destins croisés recueillis avant l’oubli. Le film est la fois un excellent travail de mémoire et une réflexion sur les choix urbanistiques et politiques qui impactent paysages et vies humaines.”
Jean-Francois Baudin, IMAGES EN BIBLIOTHÈQUES
Notes from the director

1984: the year I was born. Ceaușescu ordered the demolition of an architectural monument of the 18th century, the imposing Văcăresti monastery in Bucharest, transformed into a political prison in the 20th century. He wanted to build an artificial lake in its place. After having built five kilometres of walls, he did not have time to see the completion of his project. History caught up with him as he was executed in 1989. The abandoned land of what had been Văcăresti, protected by the walls, faded from collective consciousness.

In "The Garden of Forking Paths”, Borges describes a garden that appears as you look at it. As far as I’m concerned, I intend to film an abandoned land, while projecting upon it the dreams of the past and the future, which both transform and transcend the place. A political prison, a natural park, a Roma settlement – a “film space” develops in the place of abandoned land.

Making this documentary meant plunging back into my memories, but going even further back, before my birth, to seek the history of the place. The trigger is Lena Constante's tapestry, sent to me in Paris by my mother. Lena was a political prisoner. Trying to learn more about her years in Văcărești prison, I found out that a great number of women gave birth in between this prisons's walls. Today, Romas are born in that same geograophical place, between the lake's walls in similar conditions as the political prisoners back in the 60s.

This documentary is a plunge into a world that is simultaneously extremely cruel and exceptionally beautiful, a product of the dreams of each generation. It is these dreams that helped women to survive decades in prison, tortured and isolated, with no books or paper to evade their situation anywhere but in their own heads. Ceaușescu’s dream of creating a lake spanning several hectares was a crazy one. Văcăresti today represents a dream for young architects and ecologists who have come to project their vision of a better and cleaner future.

 

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