Collective – Colectiv (2019)

Directed by: Alexander Nanau | 109 minutes | documentary | Starring: Razvan Lutac, Mirela Neag, Catalin Tolontan, Tedy Ursuleanu, Vlad Voiculescu

What are we at the mercy of if the institutions are poorly organized and unreliable? It is a question that also arises in the Netherlands, with the current allowance affair at the Tax and Customs Administration as the most recent example. However, you don’t often find it as transparent as shown in the Romanian documentary ‘Collective’.

We speak Bucharest 2015: a nightclub burns down, resulting in 27 deaths. Another 38 people died in hospital, mainly from the effects of infections. The latter in particular attracts attention: why did so many burnt victims die in hospital?

The film ripples along with the public outcry, based on explicit, chilling images of the fire itself and of the infected victims. These images form the basis of the persuasiveness of this documentary, which occasionally tests patience with lengthy press conferences by the well-meaning Minister of Health and ditto meetings.

Which is the case: the hospital involved has spent loads of money on a disinfectant that is then diluted ten times to save money. The consequences are disastrous. Pictures of patients speak for themselves; the hospital director looks like a petty criminal.

This film wants you to believe, you almost have to believe it if you know a little bit about human nature. The only hopeful thing is the public outcry that arises as a result of these kinds of calamities, which are eventually covered up. Director Nanau, who manages to find the tear in a good way, is part of that call for citizenship.

Fortunately, the Romanian press is eager to join in, which is certainly necessary to bring these kinds of matters into the limelight. Institutions have to be accountable to society as a whole. Directors can try to sweep this kind of misery under the rug, public opinion has the last word, although for 65 mostly young Romanians that is of course much too late.