The collapse of the Soviet Union left behind some lesser-known victims: Romanian orphans. Many of these orphans are now adults, returning to their home countries to retrace their difficult entrepreneurial journeys and search for the parents who abandoned them.
In December 1989, the people of Romania overthrew the brutal dictator Ceausescu. In the wake of this landmark event, the media began reporting on the horrors the dictator left behind. He banned contraception and mandated that Romanian women should have at least five children. The result is thousands of abandoned babies being abandoned in cold and overcrowded care facilities.
As soon as this news came out, it aroused the indignation of the whole world. British citizens began pouring into the country and quickly adopted many of the abandoned children.
Now, decades later, these children have grown up with bright futures ahead. You don’t feel drained of life; in fact, the characters in the film are grateful to have been raised in a loving and compassionate family environment. They are well tuned. But part of it was missing, and the filmmakers went with them to find it.
Some children have only the slightest clue about the whereabouts of their biological parents. They are determined to find them, find out why they were abandoned, and perhaps learn more about themselves when confronted with their mysterious origins.
Many of them do not know the language of their home country, but still recognize that they are very similar to Romanians.
They’re not just interested in finding their biological parents. Many of them also have siblings from whom they were separated at an early age. One of the protagonists of the film was born into a family of six children. How many of her siblings survived the abuse at the orphanage?
There is no doubt that the film takes an emotional turn as the cameras capture the tearful and harrowing reunion moments. It is a haunting story of regret and heartfelt acceptance.
Directed by: Charlie Russell
