Between Revolutions

Original title: Intre revolutii
Genre: Document
Director: Vlad Petri
Script: Vlad Petri
Country: Romania, Qatar, Iran, Croatia
Year of production: 2023
Czas: 69 min

Awards and nominations:
2023 Berlin International Film Festival: FIPRESCI Prize in the Forum section
2023 Valladolid International Film Festival: Best Documentary
2023 Transilvania International Film Festival: Best Romanian Film
2023 Rasnov Film Festival and Histories: Jury Prize – Best Documentary
2023 Mediteran Film Festival: Grand Prix – Best Film
2024 Trieste Film Festival: Best Documentary

It’s late 1970s. Students of medicine Maria and Zahara are best friends living in Bucharest. When Zahara goes back to her home country, Iran, their friendship doesn’t lose its intensity. The women keep corresponding for a decade against all odds and despite restrictions. They write about their hopes and problems, longing for carefree student days, and disappointment with what’s going on in their countries. There’s a lot to share. Zahara supports her father who’s engaged in overthrowing the Shah. What they don’t expect, however, is the surprising turn of events: the changes will lead to ayatollahs’ rule that will turn out to be a nightmare for progressive people. After a few years Maria will admit: “They know everything we write, say, and think”. Apathetic Romania under Ceauşescu’s rule will see ferment no sooner than in 1989. Between the revolutions everyone is living their ordinary, small lives. When creating this intimate portrait of political changes and quiet struggles of women, Vlad Petri along with a screenwriter Lavinia Braniste used files of Romanian secret police. Brilliant montage of original footage showing Iran in the times of the Revolution and Romania in the 1980s is especially compelling.
Author: Agata Gogołkiewicz

Director:
Vlad Petri – a Romanian filmmaker interested in political and social topics. His feature directorial debut was „Where Are You Bucharest?”. His second film „Between Revolutions” premiered at Berlin Film Festival where it was awarded FIPRESCI Prize.

   subtitles in Polish and English