More than three decades after the fall of communism, Romania faces persistent challenges of corruption and societal division, according to a recent critique from one of its most internationally acclaimed filmmakers. Cristian Mungiu, the first Romanian director to win the Palme d’Or, has publicly voiced concerns over a system he describes as prioritizing personal enrichment over public service and equitable resource allocation. His assessment comes at a crucial juncture for the nation, as it continues to navigate its post-revolution identity and the complexities of modernization within the European Union.
Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu has delivered a stark assessment of his country 36 years after the Romanian Revolution of December 1989, criticizing a deeply divided society and systemic corruption. The acclaimed director points to a troubling trend of groups profiting from the justice system and a disproportionate allocation of state funds towards the church, at the expense of vital sectors like education, culture, and healthcare.
“Unfortunately, it’s very clear these days what Romania looks like,” Mungiu stated. “Society is broken in two, radicalized, and public discourse is hysterical, filled with irrational and propagandistic narratives. It’s a country where there are no civilians in public office, suffocated by trans-party security groups who enrich themselves through deals with the state, are above the law, and trade favors within a justice system that’s just another business. A country where you live well until you have the misfortune of needing to go to the hospital, and where subsidies for churches are disproportionate compared to those for culture, education, or healthcare. A country where no competition and no appointment is based solely on merit.”
Mungiu acknowledged some progress has been made, noting that those in power since 1989 have benefited from it. This critique from a leading voice in Romanian cinema arrives as the country continues to grapple with its post-communist identity and the challenges of modernization.
According to Mungiu, “last year’s presidential elections or the current stubbornness regarding special pensions show that these groups holding the country captive are willing to sacrifice any funding for the benefit of all if it affects their personal interests, and risk sacrificing even international relations if it threatens their absolute authority.”
Who is Cristian Mungiu?
Cristian Mungiu is the first Romanian director to win the Palme d’Or for a feature film, receiving the honor in 2007 for “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.”
The filmmaker has directed 12 short and feature films, beginning with “Occident” (2002), starring Alexandru Papadopol, and continuing with “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” (2007), “Tales from the Golden Age” (2009), and “Beyond the Hills” (2012).
At the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, Mungiu received the award for Best Screenplay for “Beyond the Hills,” with actresses Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur also winning the award for Best Actress.
“Baccalaureate,” released in 2016, earned him the directing prize at Cannes and garnered critical acclaim. That same year, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars.
Mungiu was also the first Romanian filmmaker invited to serve on the jury for the official competition at Cannes, at the 2013 edition, which was presided over by director Steven Spielberg.
In 2012, the filmmaker received the “Royal House of Romania Cross” medal from King Michael I, following the “Star of Romania” Order, Knight degree, awarded by the Romanian Presidency in June 2007. In May 2013, he received the title of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Government. In October 2017, he received the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French Ambassador to Bucharest, Michèle Ramis, a distinction awarded by the President of France. He co-founded the production company Mobra Films in 2003, alongside director and musician Hanno Höfer and cinematographer Oleg Mutu, and has produced over 15 films, including his own and those of other Romanian and foreign directors.
Over the past two years, he has produced Jacques Audiard’s “The Sisters Brothers,” which premiered at Venice in 2018, and Ioana Uricaru’s “Lemonade,” the first Romanian film shot in North America, as well as the HBO miniseries “Hackerville” and “Black Money (for White Days).”
Mungiu has organized the Les Films de Cannes à Bucarest festival for 16 years, offering Romanian audiences access to films selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
This year, he was a member of the main competition jury at the Venice International Film Festival.
Also this year, “The Century Heist/Traffic,” directed by Teodora Ana Mihai, with a screenplay by Cristian Mungiu, was well-received by audiences and was Romania’s submission for a nomination at the Oscars.
