In the early 2000s, a series of priceless snake-shaped gold spiral bracelets began to appear in museums and auction houses around the world. These artifacts are so rare that many archaeologists are unaware of their existence. The search for Transylvanian gold follows clues, unraveling its origins and the dark subplots surrounding its sudden emergence on the international stage.
Some believe the bracelets are remnants of a vast treasure hidden by Dacian kings nearly 2,000 years ago. Still others believe these are elaborate counterfeits. But even if they were real, how and by whom were they discovered?
Romanian prosecutor Augustin Lazar believes the items were obtained illegally by members of a fanatical mob that specializes in looting archaeological sites.
German antiquities expert Barbara Deppert has been gifted by a young man with two bracelets she claims to have found in the mountains of Transylvania. Eventually, they met with Lazar to consider its possible origin and authenticity. During their investigation, they discovered that the bracelets had also appeared in New York and London in recent years.
The plot becomes more complicated with the introduction of Calin Ciota, a car dealer, dog lover and ex-con who is sold a mysterious bracelet by a man in desperate need of a loan. He accidentally becomes part of an undercover operation when he tries to resell the piece.
The film offers testimony from all three characters while weaving an intricate web of international intrigue. Along the way, we see elements of organized crime, scandal, and a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. The end result could prove to be one of the greatest forgeries in the history of archaeology, or lead to a radical rethinking of ancient Romanian history. The film also takes on an air of mysticism, as interviewees wonder if the artifacts are imbued with ancient religious curses.
The search for gold in Transylvania is by no means arcane archaeological history. It’s like a heartbreaking globetrotting thriller.
Directed by: Andrei-Nicolae Teodorescu
