Dash Film and the Studio Zona Association announce the premiere of the documentary “CVARTAL – the cultural heritage of the Bucharest neighborhoods” and the release of 10 mini-volumes dedicated to housing complexes known as “Russian blocks”. The event, with free entry, takes place on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 6 p.m., at the Muzeul Ţăranului Cinema in Bucharest.
The documentary film and the ten volumes bring to the fore the history and cultural importance of ten blocks of blocks built in Bucharest between 1945 and 1958, under the collective name of “Russian blocks”. These ensembles not only represent a significant segment of Bucharest's architectural history, but have influenced and continue to influence the urban landscape and local identity.
Each volume dedicated to an ensemble explores its history and architecture in detail, giving readers an engaging insight into the development of these communities. The authors of these volumes, Andrei Răzvan Voinea and Cristian Dumitrescu, recognized for their expertise in the field of architecture and local history, bring to light the unique story of each neighborhood and its inhabitants.
The ten housing complexes studied are: PTT Rahova, Panduri, Drumul Sării, Drumul Taberei, Vatra Luminoasă, București Noi, Muncii, Cățelu, Olteniței and Păsculescu Tei.
The documentary film, directed by Dan Radu Mihai, is based on a script signed by the director and proposes an experimental approach to recount the history of these neighborhoods. The residents' perspective on living in these neighborhoods is complemented by the interventions of historians, architects, anthropologists who have studied the history of housing in Bucharest: Mara Mărginean, Irina Tulbure, Bogdan Iancu, Alexandru Axinte and Andrei Răzvan Voinea. Also presented are archival footage and previously unseen material that completes the story of these ensembles and the people who populated them.
The “Russian blocks”, as they are known, represent an important segment of the architectural and social history of Bucharest. In this project, not only the architectural aspects of these ensembles are explored, but also their impact on the daily life and identity of local communities.
The launch event is open to the general public and invites all Bucharesters to discover and celebrate the cultural heritage of Bucharest's neighborhoods. Between April 17 and 28, six screenings will take place in the areas adjacent to the 10 blocks. The schedule of these screenings will be communicated on the cvartal.dashfilm.ro website, as well as on the project's Facebook account.
Through this initiative, DASH Film and the Studio Zona Association aim to contribute to the rebalancing of the cultural landscape of the city, to promote the identity and social and cultural involvement of the residents of the Bucharest neighborhoods.
“Quartal – Cultural Heritage of the Neighborhoods of Bucharest” proposes the cultural activation of Bucharest neighborhoods through the development of multidisciplinary cultural products focused on the history of the micro-communities associated with the quarter-type buildings and through cultural and bilateral cooperation.
