Arsenie. An Amazing Afterlife

Romania, Luxembourg2023documentary95'Fokus na Rumunię (2024)

Get on the bus, we are going on a pilgrimage! Aleksandru Solomon takes his viewers on a fictional journey in the footsteps of the real future saint. Even the photo alone catches one’s eye as it shows the face of a young handsome monk with a mesmerising gaze. And the replicated image is coupled with the rumours about his death as a martyr. All of it makes Arsenie Boca difficult to forget. Therefore, it is not surprising that over time, the monk, persecuted by the communist authorities, has become not only a symbol of struggle against the cruel regime, but also the chief Romanian miracle-worker, attracting crowds of believers as well as those who are very keen on making money off of the future saint’s popularity.

directed by
Alexandru Solomon, portret reżysera
Alexandru Solomon

Documentary and feature film director, producer, and cinematographer, Solomon emerged as a young director of photography in the early 1990s, branching into documentary filmmaking alongside his work in feature films. He was among the first Romanian filmmakers who dedicated themselves to a then-compromised genre. Today, he stands as one of Romania's foremost political filmmakers, actively engaged in the international documentary scene. His recent work has sparked public debates about the role of documentary film within the public sphere and has played a significant part in reshaping Romania's recent history through the medium of documentary filmmaking.

cinematography
Tudor Platon, Marius Besu
script
Alexandru Solomon
music
Alin Zăbrăuțeanu, Andrei Coteț
editing
Cătălin Cristuțiu, Reiter Sophie
production
Ada Solomon, Diana Caravia (microFILM)
Photo
Kadr z filmu Arsenie. An Amazing Afterlife
Trailer