by Romanian Film Festival Seattle Staff

The 8th Edition of the Romanian Film Festival Seattle, “Back to Wonderland” will be screening virtually November 12th-21st through Northwest Film Forum’s online platform. The 2021 festival invites you to journey back to wonderland with new film productions from Romania and Eastern Europe, and offers an immersive screen experience, with all film screenings including a live discussion or filmmaker Q&A!

Tickets and passes are on sale now, and are available on a sliding scale.

The Romanian Film Festival Seattle staff chose selected titles from the Scarecrow Video catalog to pair with films screening during the festival:

At Scarecrow, rent: BOOGIE (2008), TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS (2010), or THE WAY I SPENT THE END OF THE WORLD (2005), all Directed by Raud Muntean, a central figure in the “Romanian New Wave” film movement.

At the Festival, see Muntean’s latest film ÎNTREGALDE (2021), which follows a group of well-meaning urban professionals who drive up muddy, unpaved mountain roads on their annual humanitarian trip bringing aid to the remote village of Întregalde — and get stuck there.

At Scarecrow, rent BEYOND THE HILLS (2012), Directed by Cristian Mungiu. A drama about two young women at an Eastern Orthodox convent in Romania which won the “Best Screenplay” award at Cannes.

At the Festival, see NO REST FOR THE OLD LADY (2021), Directed by Andrei Gruzsniczki. Much like Mungiu’s HILLS, this comedy-drama addresses Romanian superstitions and challenges old beliefs.

At Scarecrow, rent 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS (2007), Directed by Cristian Mungiu, or RYNA (2005), Directed by Ruxandra Zenide. Both films feature strong female characters.

At the Festival, see MIA MISSES HER REVENGE (2021), Directed by Bogdan Olteanu. This compassionate drama is about a young actress struggling with her feelings around the trauma of her boyfriend slapping her … while also developing a plan for revenge.

Also at the Festival: FRAGILE (2021), Directed by Ioana Mischie, has actress Ioana Flora give voice to several Romanian women who suffered abuse and trauma; each story is performed with empathy, respect, and understanding.

At Scarecrow, rent I DO NOT CARE IF WE GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BARBARIANS (2018), Directed by Radu Jude; a commentary on the Holocaust and Romaninan Jewish history.

At the Festival, see two more films by Radu Jude on the same subject: THE DEAD NATION (2017), a documentary that juxtaposes Romania’s fascist past via the experience of Legionnares and the country’s increased anti-Semitism during WWI — and THE EXIT OF THE TRAINS (2020), where Jude explores the history of the Iași pogrom through written testimonials and images of the Iași Jewish community.

Also at the Festival, see OCCASIONAL SPIES (2020), Directed by Oana Giurgiu. Hailing from Romania, Yugoslavia, Slovakia and Austria, the subjects of this documentary are young Jews who were recruited to Palestine during WWII to help the local resistance repel German invaders.

At Scarecrow, rent ACASA, MY HOME (2020), Directed by Radu Ciorniciuc about nine children and their parents living in perfect harmony with nature for 20 years until they are chased out and forced to adapt to life in the big city.

At the Festival, see THE PASTOR’S WOMEN (2019), Directed by Oana Tenter. This short documentary explores the life of a pastor’s wife as she works tirelessly for her family and to improve her Roma community.

At Scarecrow, rent TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE (2009), Directed by Hanno Höfer, Cristian Mungiu, Constantin Popescu, Ioana Uricaru, and Răzvan Mărculescu — and 12:08 EAST OF BUCHAREST (2006), Directed by Corneliu Porumboiu to learn more about the communist regime in Romania.

At the Festival, see SERVANTS (2020), Directed by Ivan Ostrochovský: a chilling drama set in a seminary explores the torturous choice students must make in 1980 totalitarian Czechoslovakia.