Experimentul Pitesti

Last night I was present with my colleagues at the Pitesti Philharmonic for the release here, too, of the independent feature film Experimentul PITESTI, by the young producer and director Victoria Baltag, with whom I had the opportunity to meet 12 years ago, just before to beginning to work on this featurefilm. This feature is a distinctive event, a document-film, a historical paragraph.

The Pitesti experiment remains in Romania's recent history one of the cruelest methods of re-educating the imprisoned, most of them pupils and students whose thinking had to be changed in order to comply with communist requirements.

The artistic film, a tough one, moves you and makes you witness some atrocities that took place shortly before we were born, in the places near us, at the Pitesti Prison.

The more people become aware of the possibility of the presence of "evil", the harder it can be repeated.

I invite you to watch this piece of black history that puts Pitesti on an unfair map of cruelty for awareness and knowledge.

I congratulate Victoria for the work done and the result - a masterpiece, a film that makes Pitesti known all over the world, and with the effort of each of us, we can show that everything that happened during that time was just an unrepeatable episode."

"The Pitesti Experiment" is undoubtedly a film worth watching, not only for its profound theme and emotional impact but also for the impressive effort of the team that made this project possible. It stands as a tribute to our recent history and a testament to the human sacrifice in the face of unimaginable atrocities.

What makes this film truly remarkable is the fact that it was self-funded. The people who worked on it spent years conducting thorough research, poured their hearts and souls into it, and worked tirelessly to faithfully depict the horrors of communist prisons. Every detail, from the set design to the performances, reflects the passion and dedication of the team.

As the final film of the late maestro Ion Caramitru, The Pitesti Experiment becomes even more precious, serving as an artistic testament to an exceptional career. Additionally, Sergiu Flesner delivers a memorable performance, contributing to the authenticity and emotional intensity of the story. Filming in the city of Iasi adds extra value, showcasing locations that have witnessed history.

This film is more than a cinematic production - it is a history lesson, an invitation to reflection, and a tribute to the memory of those who suffered in the name of freedom. It deserves all our appreciation and support!

A must-see! 🌟 How exciting to see this movie again in the comfort of our homes! It is a shocking and tragic experience, a story that has to be told so people can remember and challenge the societal changes if it happens for history to repeat itself.

If this movie was made by one of the big production studios it would have been nominated and surely had won many awards. As it is shocking, it is a true story (my own family members have been politically persecuted and detained during those times) and it should be remembered and shared with the world so people can see the ugly head of communism and socialism and the negative impact on the society. The movie should be a must watch for all the nostalgic people who are dreaming about communism. Never forget, never again!

Thank you, Victoria Baltag for continuing the great work in bringing stories of great impact on the world!

I find it difficult to state how I feel having seen the movie. I know it is not for the faint hearted but it is necessary, critical in our days to know the truth, the history as it happened.

It may be hard for people to relate today although, looking at the current conflict in Ukraine, authoritarianism is very present nowadays.

The fact the movie was made without a budget and still very much managed to reflect reality and provide a glimpse into what was the darkest, most cruel, dehumanising process in Romanian history (possibly not just Romanian history) is a fantastic thing in itself.

It reminds me once more that cruelty has no political or religious affiliation. It is a human being that simply lost their humanity.

The only reason for the rating is due to the gruesome representation. Not the kind of movie I'd like to see over and over.

De la intalnirea cu Francisc Ford Copolla (in 2007)nu am mai vazut la un regizor atata pasture, rigoare in documentare,atentie la detalii, entuziasm si emotie bine controlata prin autoritatea constiintei propriei valori. Un OM si un Geniu (am proprietatea termenilor) pe care am avut sansa sa-l intalnesc la Suceava, odata cu proiectia filmului ei despre experimentul de la Pitesti care a inceput (culmea), la Suceava.

Despre cumplitul Experiment Pitesti, in care unii detinuti politici au fost asmutiti impotriva celorlalti si acestia din urma au trecut prin tortúri inimaginabile, publicul stie inca destul de putine. S-au scris carti si studii, dar n-a fost suficient. Pentru a umple acest gol, acum 12 ani, o foarte tanara regizoare, Victoria Baltag, a pornit un proiect ambitios, fara nici o finantare.

In 2015, a reusit sa realizeze un film artistic fara buget, la care a participat si regretatul mare actor Ion Caramitru, in ceea ce avea sa fie ultimul lui rol intr-un lungmetraj.

De-atunci si pana acum, regizoarea si echipa ei de voluntari au mers cu filmul intr-un turneu national, in 44 de locuri, dar a fost si invitata in Mexic, Canada si SUA. De fiecare data a prezentat intr-o expozitie si obiectele pe care a reusit sa le adune: trei tablouri realizate de detinutul Fag Negrescu dupa ce a reusit sa supravietuiasca infernului de la Pitesti, numeroase alte tablouri donate de artisti contemporani pentru ca din banii rezultati in urma vanzarii lor sa poata ajuta proiectul, lucrari de arta ale regizoarei, fotografii si obiecte de la filmari, o cerga daruita la Iasi de jurnalostul Lucian Merisca, fiul lui Constantin Merisca, fost detinut politic la Pitesti.

La sfarsit de august 2023, prima editie a turneului s-a incheiat la Bucuresti, pentru putina vreme caci al doilea turneu al anului 2023 urmeaza sa inceapa chiar in aceasta toamna si are in centrul ei obiecte ale tinerilor care au trecut prin Experimentul Pitesti.