Think Freedom
"Think Freedom: The Catalyst" Premiere and Film Discussion
“I felt the need to be in the streets. I said ‘okay, so they have escalated that, I will escalate too’. I wasn’t sure how, but I was going to stay there for as long as it takes.” shared Radu Vancu in a panel discussion on his determination in the “We see you” protests in Romania. On the 27th of March the premiere of the documentary "Think Freedom: The Catalyst" took place at the Goethe Institute in Bucharest. Directed by Anna Stoeva and produced by Tanuki Films, the film delves into the remarkable story of Radu Vancu, an intellectual, poet, scholar and activist from Sibiu, Romania.
The role of hope and resilience
The film premiere was followed by a discussion featuring Martin Kothé, regional director for FNF East and Southeast Europe, the director Anna Stoeva and the protagonist Radu Vancu himself. The talk addressed the complexities of activism, the role of art in resistance, and the importance of maintaining hope in turbulent times. After the first panel discussion moderated by Martin Kothé, Adriana Steau, Project Coordinator for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Romania and Moldova, continued with discussing the success and impact of the protests together with Radu Vancu, Dan Perjovschi and Ciprian Ciocan, both of whom are also supporters and protagonists of the protest and the film.
[The filming] was like talking with some friends (…) about what artists, writers, photographers and visual artists (…) can do when society crumbles apart and falls apart. It was like a continual talk about how we reconstruct reality when somebody tries to destroy reality. So it was a continuation of the protest.
Anna Stoeva, the director behind the documentary, shared her journey of capturing the essence of the protests “Va Vedem din Sibiu” ("We see you/ we are watching you from Sibiu"). Her collaboration with Radu Vancu, the central figure in the film, sheds light on the creative process behind the project. Stoeva's reflections on the importance of visual storytelling highlighted the role of art in amplifying voices of dissent and resistance. She also emphasized the emotional depth that images bring to narratives.
I feel that there’s a lack of understanding of how strong images, ideas and stories can be when you try to triangulate everything to logic. Logic is a good tool, but sometimes the axioms or the postulates from which the tree of logic grows, don’t take everything into account and discount the effect of a strong image that can make you go to a protest over and over again.
In the documentary, Radu Vancu emerged as a voice of optimism against the challenges portrayed. His consistent belief in the potential for change, even in the darkest of times, served as a source of hope for many protestors.
Hope is a social coagulant, (…) [American philosopher Richard] Rorty says. And in the long run it works almost always if you believe in it strongly and consistently enough.
Reflecting on historical examples, Vancu demonstrated the significance of holding onto hope during difficult times. His belief in the gradual progression of societies reflects the themes of resilience and determination, motivating individuals to stay resolute in their mission for progress.
It was hope that kept Romania’s heart going.
A universal message beyond the protests
"Think Freedom: The Catalyst" does not just capture the determined strength of the Romanian people during their “We see you” protests — it also delivers a powerful message of hope and resilience that is universally applicable. Radu Vancu's story serves as a reminder of how belief and courage can trigger profound change, inspiring audiences to persevere in the fight for justice and freedom. The post-premiere discussion went even deeper and has revealed insights into the motives and thoughts of Radu Vancu and Anna Stoeva, the protagonist and the director of the documentary.
Change is very slow, [that's] why our protests don’t have an effect as strong as we expect. But then changes sometimes sudden and we need to look back – I don’t know, 200 years – to understand why it came exactly then.
Watch the film premiere (in English) and the following protest discussion (in Romanian) on the Facebook page of FNF Romania and Moldova. The event was organized by FNF Romania and Moldova, in cooperation with the Regional Office of FNF East and Southeast Europe.
The film is part of the #ThinkFreedom series of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, featuring documentary portraits of inspiring and free-minded people from East Europe. Find out more here.