Romanian cinema rising

The Great Communist Bank Robbery

Directed by Alexandru Solomon
Original title: Marele jaf comunist
Romania, 2004, 85 min.

    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.