Uppercase Print
dir. Radu Jude · 2020
The struggle for freedom and expression is a fundamental part of the human experience, highlighting the desire for change and the courage to voice dissent.
In the Romanian city of Botoşani, chalk slogans demanding freedom and reform emerge on public walls, a silent yet powerful act of defiance against the oppressive regime of the early 1980s. Mugur Călinescu, a schoolboy at the time, becomes the focal point of this grassroots movement, his story intertwined with the echoes of a society yearning for change. Watching this film is like stepping into a time capsule, where the weight of history and the urgency of youthful rebellion collide, inviting reflection on the fragility of freedom.
In 1981, chalk slogans written in uppercase letters started appearing in public spaces in the Romanian city of Botoşani. They demanded freedom, alluded to the democratic developments taking place in Romania’s socialist sister countries or simply called for improvements in the food supply. Mugur Călinescu was behind them, who was still at school at the time and whose case is documented in the files of the Romanian secret police. Theatre director Gianina Cărbunariu created a documentary play based on this material.
Talking points
- the impact of state surveillance on personal freedom
- the role of youth in political movements
- the significance of public expression in authoritarian regimes
- the intersection of art and activism
