Written and Directed by Thomas Ciulei
Original title: Asta e
Romania/ Germany, 2001, 92 min.
Cinematography: Thomas Ciulei, Antonio Pintus
Production: Ciulei Films, Europolis Film, ZDF
Festivals & Awards: Panorama, Berlinale 2001; Documentary Grand Prize, Belfort 2001; Golden Olive, Kalamata Intl Documentary Festival 2001; Grand Jury Prize for Widescreen & Silver Rembrandt for Documentary, IBC Amsterdam 2001; Special Mention, Les ecrans documentaires, Paris 2002

The Romanian town of Sulina lies right in the no-man's-land of the Danube Delta, cut off from the rest of the world. It used to be a wealthy trade town, but with the decline of communism the economic connections petered out. The film portrays three different generations by following four of the region’s inhabitations, striving everyday to make ends meet. 25-year-old Nicu tries to make a living as a fisherman. Ionuţ, 15, sets out to steal whatever he can find on the deserted ships of the Danube-fleet to sell it afterwards. The old married couple Varvara and Toni live from hand to mouth as peasants. Regular arguments arise as Toni drinks too much, while Varvara is left to do all the work, and secretly carries out rituals in the hope of changing her husband.