For two decades, the Enache family — nine kids and their parents — lived in a shack in the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta, an abandoned water reservoir, one of the biggest urban natural reservations in the world, with lakes and hundreds of species of animals and rare plants. When the authorities decide to claim back this rare urban ecosystem, the Enache family is evicted and told to resettle in the city—a reality they know nothing about. Kids that used to spend their days in nature have to learn about city life, go to school instead of swimming in the lake, and swap their fishing rods for mobile phones. Their identity has been questioned and transformed, along with their sense of freedom and family ties.

Radu Ciorniciuc’s debut is a thoughtful study of gentrification, seen through the eyes of a family trying to adapt to the new life they never asked for. Is it better to go back to their “paradise lost,” with its life free yet harsh, or to become part of the society that offers comforts but comes with pressures and conflict?

Direction: Radu Ciorniciuc

Script: Lina Vdovîi

Production: Monica Lazurean-Gorgan

Cinematography: Radu Ciorniciuc, Mircea Topoleanu

Editing: Andrei Gorgan

Original Score: Gaute Barlindhaug

Cast: Valentin Enache

Original Title: ACASĂ

Original Language: Romanian

Film Production Countries: Romania, Germany, Finland

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/acasathefilm

Statement of the Director/s
The harmonious bond with nature and the difficulties of the Enache’s wild lifestyle dictated the social dynamics inside the family. The bond between the members was not only forged by love, but also by their will to stay alive. Only by working and being together, could the family survive in that harsh environment. This was their shield against the dangers coming from inside and outside the Delta.
But independence is a core value of how our society sees the social integration process. Very soon after moving into the city, the family members learned that the opportunities of having a comfortable life can only be reached by becoming independent. Living or working together was not an option anymore, especially for the family’s youngsters. They had lesser difficulties than their parents to adapt to the new reality and were more willing to succeed as integrated citizens.
The film is built around one family’s drama and, keeping the proportions, around one of modern man’s biggest dilemmas: to go back to nature, where life is free but harsh without the benefits of civilization? Or to be part of a society that offers opportunities of a comfortable life, but only to those who are willing to embrace the pressures that come with comfort?

Biography of the Director/s
In 2012, Radu co-founded the first independent media organisation in Romania - Casa Jurnalistului, a community of reporters specialised in in-depth, long-form and multi-media reporting. Since then, he has been working as a long-form writer and undercover investigative reporter. His researches are focused on human rights, animal welfare and environmental issues across the globe. His investigative and reporting work was published on most of the major international media organisations in the world - Channel 4 News, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, etc. - and received national and international awards.
His journalistic work was acknowledged by the UK Royal Television Society (2014), Amnesty International UK (2014), the Harold Wincott Awards for Business, Economic and Financial Journalism (2016), and by other international and national prestigious institutions.
ACASĂ, MY HOME is the debut film of Radu Ciorniciuc.

Awards Won
Special Jury Award for Cinematography, World Cinema Documentary – Sundance FF 2020
Viktor Main Competition - DOK.fest München 2020
Special Jury Award - Thessaloniki IFF 2020

Production Company:
Manifest Film
Monica Lazurean-Gorgan
str. Ing. Dimitrie Tacu nr. 28
Bucharest, 050184, Romania
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +40 749 100 958

World Sales:
Autlook Film Sales
Martina Droandi
Spittelberggasse 3/14
Vienna , 1070 , Austria
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +43 6 70 20 87 881

Press:
Textual Media
Simona Radoi
str. Ing. Dimitrie Tacu nr. 28
Bucuresti, 050184, Romania
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +40 742 006 036