12:08 East of Bucharest

In Vaslui, Romania, set in the aftermath of the Communist regime, the residents gather to deliberate how to commemorate the anniversary of this pivotal moment in history. They ultimately decide to broadcast a celebratory talk show over a local television channel, inviting viewers to join the conversation via telephone.

Virgil Jderescu, the local television station’s director, is eager to host a live discussion centered around an essential question: Did a true revolution take place in this city? Specifically, he wants to determine whether the citizens took to the streets before or after Ceausescu’s escape, as this distinction would impact whether their gatherings were revolutionary or merely celebratory in nature.

However, when the anticipated guests decline the invitation, perhaps due to the sensitive nature of the topic, Jderescu quickly adapts. He brings in Tiberiu Manescu, a down-and-out professor known for boasting about being the first to confront the dictator’s regime, and Emanoil Piscoci, a meticulous and somewhat paranoid elderly man, who once dressed as Santa Claus for local children.

As the live talk show kicks off, Professor Manescu fervently recounts his supposed revolutionary experiences. But things take a turn when two viewers call in, disputing his claims and suggesting he was drunk during the events—a claim made without any substantial evidence to support it. This intriguing and heated discourse soon spirals into chaos as Manescu, clearly agitated, starts pointing out the flaws of local dignitaries, including Virgil Jderescu, who is unmasked as a textile engineer masquerading as a journalist.

What begins as a civil discussion rapidly devolves into a grotesque spectacle, with both the talk show and its participants—especially the previously reticent Piscoci—taking absurd turns. The tone shifts dramatically as the show transforms into an unexpected mix of triviality and farce, embodying the complex layers of history and memory in a post-revolutionary society.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 18:41