About the concept
Tales from the Golden Age aims to be an unconventional subjective history of the late communist times in Romania told through its urban myths from the perspective of simple people. We, Romanians, consider urban legends to be true stories that were told from mouth to mouth. They were the main topic of gossip and debate in the long cues for food. Humor is what kept Romanians alive and Tales from the Golden Age aims to re-capture that mood.
The project aims to re-create in a nostalgic and evocative way the times of our youth during the eighties, through music, language habits, objects and quoting stereotypes of that age.
The film offers an overview of the survival of a nation having to face every day the particular logic of a dictatorship - revealing the funny side aspects of a dictatorship that was taking itself too seriously.
About the structure
Tales from the Golden Age is composed of six independent short stories connected by the mood, the narrative pattern and the details of the historical period: the only car you can see on the streets is the local version of Renault 12, Dacia, the daily TV program is just two hours long, everybody steals from the state, food is more important than money, you have to obey party orders no matter how illogical they seem. People have a grim look on their faces; still, deep inside they are alive, they aim to love and to be loved.
The stories are grouped in two series: Part One places together four legends involving different aspects of the clash with the authorities: The Legend of the Official Visit, The Legend of the Party Photographer, The legend of the Zealous Activist, The Legend of the Greedy Militia-Man. Part Two puts together two more lyrical stories showing how the economical situation of the period would interfere with love at different ages. The stories in Part Two are: The Legend of Air Sellers and The Legend of the Chicken Driver.
About the creative approach
After the success with 4 month, 3 weeks and 2 days, I decided to open up the rest of the project Tales from the Golden Age to different other Romanian directors. I brought on board other directors old enough to remember the period.
Still, my involvement in the project was very complex: I chose the stories, wrote the screenplays, got involved into the casting and editing, watching that finally there is just one film at the end and not an eclectic mixture of visions. Still, the personality of each director is visible, especially in the shooting style. I like this diversity; this was the aim of associating them to the project.