An alcoholic history teacher, a widower and a small town TV presenter walk into a television studio… that is the premise of our next EuRaw Stories film.
Corneliu Porumboiu’s 12:08 East of Bucharest is one of the first films that signaled the arrival of the Romanian New Wave in cinema (which continues to thrive with another win at Cannes this year).
At 12:08pm on 22 December 1989 dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown through a popular revolution. Hearing about the unrest on TV, people around the country flocked to the streets to protest against Ceausescu and support the uprising.
16 years after the revolution, the TV show host in 12:08 East of Bucharest is trying to find out if there was revolution in his town, if anyone went to the streets before the demise of the communist regime was confirmed on TV. ‘Was there or wasn’t there?’ is the literal translation of the film title.
Did anyone take to the streets before 12:08? And what about the ones that went after? Are they real revolutionaries or just followers? The investigation into the past becomes more and more foggy and humorous as everyone recounts their own different version of events.
The New York Times described 12:08 East of Bucharest as ‘acutely funny’. Do not be fooled by the grim grey streets and the moroseness of the characters, there is wise and gentle humour to be enjoyed in this film.
12:08 East of Bucharest screens on 18 September at Library at the Docks. Get your pass now.