Romania, the taming of the intellectuals
What were the motivations behind Romanias intellectuals to collaborate with the Ceaucescu regime? After the Soviet dominance of the 40s and 50s and the resulting forced sovietization of Romanian culture, Romanian intellectuals felt a renewed freedom when Ceaucescu came to power (mid 60s). Nationalism, which had been suppressed for years, was valid again and became the new doctrine. A wave of sympathy for the new leader and a kind of relief was felt under intellectuals who now could work without having to make a lot of concessions. But soon it became clear that Ceaucescu had only played to be a liberal. The ideal was to fund a North Korean communist dynasty in which patriotism and a leadership cult were mandatory. Intellectuals could either play the game and profit from benefits, like poet Paunescu, or be quiet.
Scenes
Oppressed nationalism
Romania has always been a land dominated by foreign forces. Nationalism was therefore often suppressed. And a strong hidden sentiment in society, especially among artists and intellectuals. During Soviet dominance (’46-‘58 ) Romanian culture was sovietized and dissidents were punished.
The rebirth of nationalism
After de Russians left, suppressed nationalism was reinvented by president Gheorghiu Dej in order to gain support for his own political agenda. When he died in 1956, Ceaucescu took over. He immediately understood the value of nationalism and elaborated the nationalistic politics. Artists for the first time felt free to make the work they wanted.
Cultural doâs and dontâs
Despite the liberal character of the first Ceaucescu years, there were rules in culture that should be followed. In this scene a film maker tells about the do’s and dont’s in Romanian cinema of the 60s and you will see a striking example.
Ceaucescuâs real cultural agenda
After playing the liberal in the first years of his regime, Ceaucescu turned out to have an agenda of his own: a North Korean version of communism including the patriotic propagandistic culture that goes along with it.
Paunescu and his collaboration with the regime
Poet Paunescu explains why he collaborated with the Ceaucescu regime and what this did to his work. In this scene you will also see footage of Paunescu’s twelve-year long cultural tour throughout Romania in which he spread the nationalistic word of the regime.
Playing along
Not all artists were as collaborative as Paunescu. But they still played along. In this scene you see a painter who has painted selfportraits of Ceaucescu. He feels guilty now, especially for not speaking up in public.
Terror system of the 80s
The 80s were the years of terror and fear. What maked the terror system so perfectly organised that there was no organised protest against the regime?