Cornerhouse LiveWire Young Film Critic James Martin reviews The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu…
Andrei Ujica’s documentary The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu is a tour-de-force of the genre. Using only archival footage, the film delves in detail into Ceauşescu’s life, starting with his ascension to power in Romania in 1965, until his final overthrow and execution on Christmas Day, 1989.
Most of this footage I had never seen before, despite studying Ceauşescu and his regime in history for two years. The film gives a fascinating insight not only into one of the most oppressive totalitarian regimes of the 20th Century and the man who stood at its head but also the dangers and innate contradictions of such an extreme ideology. As a nation, Romania may have been a satellite state under the thumb of the USSR throughout the Cold War, but Ujica, while acknowledging this, cleverly keeps his eye concentrated on Ceauşescu himself, the dissent his consolidation of power sparked in the party. Although this was the man who, in 1968, spoke out to a crowd in defiance against the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, he was also the oppressive totalitarian who – inspired by the terrified uniformity of the population of Korea and its displays of welcome – began massive reconstruction projects in urban centres, the legacy of which can still be found today.
Ujica’s film is brave and honest. The director’s hand and his mastery of dark irony can be found in his choice of montage and his structuring of the film. This is a long, in-depth and in many ways a very open-minded film. Its rewards, for those viewers willing to invest the effort in it, are abundant. One not to miss!
The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu is showing on Sun 19 May at 13:00 as part of the Anguish and Enthusiasm Film Programme. Book tickets and watch the trailer here.