For over 30 years, Andrei Ursu has been fighting to make known the truth about his father's death. Gheorghe Ursu was killed in the custody of the Security after denouncing Ceaușescu's decision to stop the consolidation of buildings affected by the earthquake of '77.
Andrei Ursu fought all his life to do justice to his father
Directed by Liviu Tofan and Șerban Georgescu, The Case of Engineer Ursu is a shocking documentary about the search for justice in a system that opposes it and will be released in cinemas on March 29.
Produced by Kolectiv Film, in co-production with the “Gheorghe Ursu” Foundation, Victoria Film, the Follow Art Association and the Romanian Television Society, the documentary has already had a series of special screenings during 2023, at Cinema Union, Cinema Eforie, Cinema The Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the Film Garden, as well as in some Film Festivals (TIFF Sibiu and Oradea, Râșnov Film and History Festival – FFIR, Fălticeni – Monica Lovinescu Centenary) and in several cities on the TIFF Caravan route. Most of the special screenings were accompanied by debates attended by Andrei Ursu and the two directors, as well as other important guests (Germina Nagâț, researcher at the National Council for the Study of Security Archives – CNSAS, historian Alexandru Groza from the Museum of the Horrors of Communism in Romania – MOCR, historian Cosmin Budeanca, Cristian Ghinea – deputy in the Romanian Parliament, Ovidiu Șimonca – journalist).
The first screening of the documentary took place a few days before the announcement of the final sentence by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. Despite the meticulously constructed case, the defendants were definitively acquitted, and the film remains the only form of justice and recognition in the case of the dissident Gheorghe Ursu.
“This is Andrei Ursu's film, of his fight for justice on behalf of his father. Who else had Andrei's tenacity and strength, his courage to risk his life twice by going on hunger strike to force the authorities to stop obstructing him? I don't know if there is another comparable case in the world. Here, he is certainly unique, and his value as a human model and moral landmark is remarkable in our desolate social landscape, and all the more necessary.“, declared Liviu Tofan.
Price 100 minutes the camera lens captures the close bond between a father and his son, a bond that, like a pillar of resistance well designed by a structural engineer, has defied all the earthquakes of the past decades. The film's production team includes Oana Muntean – executive producer, Bogdan Slăvescu – director of photography, Alex Alexandru – sound.
During April, a series of special screenings will be organized in the country, followed by a direct dialogue between the public and Andrei Ursu. More details on these will be announced soon. A first such screening, followed by Q&A, will take place on the first weekend when the documentary is in cinemas, in Cluj – Sunday, March 31, from 6:00 p.m., at Cinema Arta. Tickets have already been put on sale: https://bit.ly/Ursu31martie
