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The New Year That Never Came film image; man standing outside in a crowd

The New Year That Never Came

Anul Nou care n-a fost

Panorama

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North American Premiere

1989. After decades of all-pervasive Communist oppression under the brutal Ceaușescu dictatorship, Romania is on the brink of change. Six intertwined stories crisscross throughout Bucharest over the course of a single day that will mark the eve of the Romanian Revolution. Students surreptitiously seek ways to leave the country; a television broadcaster panics when a pre-recorded programme becomes politically untenable; an actress thinks she’s found her big break; a child’s Christmas letter to Santa unintentionally incriminates his father. These parallel tales map out the painful absurdities of lives governed by fear, flecked with grim ironies and hopeful glimpses of a better future.

The much-anticipated debut feature film from Bogdan Mureşanu, this polyphonic tragi-comedy shuffles subtle tensions and dry humour with deft craftsmanship. Reflecting national unrest and dissatisfaction through the lens of interfamilial struggles and professional pressures, this is a powerful probe of Romanian political history.

 

Best Film: Orizzonti, Venice 2024; FIPRESCI Award: Premio Valentina Pedicini under 40, Venice 2024

Director
Cast

Adrian Vǎncicǎ, Andrei Miercure, Iulian Postelnicu, Emilia Dobrin, Nicoleta Hâncu, Mihai Cǎlin

Credits
Country of Origin

Romania

Year

2024

Language

In Romanian with English subtitles

Film Contact
18+
138 min
Award Winners Drama Human Rights & Social Justice
Kinotopia

Book Tickets

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Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Irina Enea, Bogdan Luca

Producer

Irina Enea, Bogdan Luca

Screenwriter

Bogdan Mureşanu

Cinematography

Boroka Biro, Tudor Platon

Editor

Vanja Kovačević, Mircea Lăcătuș

Production Design

Iulia Fulicea, Victor Fulicea

Bogdan Mureşanu headshot; The New Year That Never Came director

Bogdan Mureşanu

In 2012, Bogdan directed his first short film, Half Shaved, which won the Audience Award at Anonimul IFF and screened at festivals worldwide. In 2016, he completed the short Spid and Negruzzi 14, an art film showcased at the National Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2017, he worked on the animation The Magician and shot The Christmas Gift, which won Best Film at the European Film Awards and was a Top 10 finalist at the 2020 Oscars. The New Year That Never Came is his first feature film.

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