The Great Communist Robbery (Marele Jaf Comunist)

A strange robbery at the Romanian National Bank in 1959 triggered a massive police search. When the alleged burglars were caught and arrested, they reenacted their crime for a television film in which they played themselves. Although evidence suggests the criminals believed they would be spared the death sentence by appearing in the film, their reality was otherwise. Described by director Alexandru Solomon as a “political detective story,” this documentary investigates both a historical mystery and the transformation of history into film.

Cinematography: Constantin Chelba
Production: Libra Film & Les Films d’Ici
Festivals: Grand Prix, Mediawave Gyor, Hungary; Prize for Social Values, Documenta Madrid 2005

Romanian with English subtitles