Uppercase Print
In 1981, chalk slogans written in uppercase letters started appearing in public spaces in the Romanian city of Botoşani. They demanded freedom, alluded to the democratic developments taking place in Romania’s socialist sister countries or simply called for improvements in the food supply. Mugur Călinescu was behind them, who was still at school at the time and whose case is documented in the files of the Romanian secret police. Theatre director Gianina Cărbunariu created a documentary play based on this material.
This film offers a somber, reflective journey into a past era of quiet defiance against an oppressive state. Its slow-burn pace immerses you in archival echoes and theatrical interpretations, creating a tense atmosphere of historical memory and individual courage. It feels like uncovering a forgotten truth.
