Zimnicea

Yes?

Comrade First Secretary?

-Do you remember? -Well, that's life.

Stefan...

Zimnicea is dropping.

Dropping...

The snow is melting, the rains will come, it will increase again.

I'm just joking.

Don't you get I'm joking?!

Guys, I believe I was crystal clear.

Tonight, everything must go according to the plan.

Full house, festive atmosphere,

amenable for the changes that will take place.

Are we clear?

Comrade First Secretary, please allow me to report.

Every criterion was met.

The workers from the power plant and the foundry will fill the room.

Working people's representatives will also be there, as specified.

No problems should arise.

Starting on Monday, comrade Dumitru right here will take over as Mayor.

As for me, I remain at your service

To appoint me wherever you see fit.

Wherever you see fit...

You talk about Dumitru, but you're thinking about yourself.

Comrade Stefan, I'm not the one to decide where you are fit.

The Party...

... decides.

Yes, comrade, I got it. The Party, of course.

But I believe you've known me for a long time.

-We've worked together... -Whatever.

... pretty well.

You, representing the county, me, representing Zimnicea.

If I may, comrade First Secretary, we will keep working together,

maybe even better than before.

Without trying to belittle the work of comrade Stefan,

him doing a good and proper job as the mayor of Zimnicea,

I think however that there is room for some improvement.

Such as?

Please allow me to bring certain measures to your attention.

As the head of the Party's housework,

I conducted an up-to-date analysis regarding the assets and liabilities,

and I believe some of them may be used in a more judicious way.

For instance...

... we have here some holiday homes which...

What do we have?

Comrade First Secretary, on the bank of the Danube we have holiday homes

which may be made available for the comrades from the headquarters,

from Bucharest,

and not kept only as local Party assets as comrade Stefan insisted on doing.

Just saying...

Is this for real?!

-You have holiday homes? -On the bank of the Danube, comrade.

Holiday homes?!

On the bank of the Danube?!

-Comrade First Secretary... -And you keep this a secret?

Comrade Stefan...

Don't you realize that in those homes, the comrades from Bucharest

could have come to relax, rest, fish?

Of course, after carrying out their respective duties...

And you didn't say a single word.

Is this how you think the Party will consider you...

... fit?!

Comrade First,

how can you possibly think I wouldn't make everything available to the Party?

They're not up to the standards, comrade First.

-They must be painted, decorated. -But for you and your people...

Were they up to the standards for you and your people?

This discussion is not over yet.

All right, let's focus on tonight's meeting.

-Sure. -What time will it start?

For tonight's meeting,

I think it is better not to interrupt the working hours.

You know better than anyone that the plan must be achieved.

So, we will start at 8:00 p.m.

It's too late.

It's too late. There'll be a reception, a dinner, dancing, refreshments.

-We can't spend the whole night. -Comrade First, tomorrow is Saturday.

We can sleep till late.

It's late, I said. That's why we're appointing a new mayor.

Because people are sleeping till late.

Is that clear?

Get out of here.

Go.

Enjoy your meal, comrade First Secretary!

There you go.

-Listen, Dumitru... -Yes, comrade!

Tonight, I don't want any shortcomings.

Yes, comrade. I understand.

Don't you worry!

Enjoy your meal, comrade! Good bye.

Based on the true story of March, 4th, 1977.

Written and directed by Bogdan Naumovici

Good day to you, comrade mayor!

I'm not the mayor anymore, Dumitru is.

-Good day to you, comrade mayor! -Hello.

Dumitru, come here.

-Huh? -Come here.

-What? -Have you got a light?

No, I quit smoking.

-Hey, you! Have you go a light? -Yes, comrade mayor!

-Care for a smoke? -Told you, I quit.

C'mon, take one, they're original! From Bulgaria.

-From across the river? -Of course.

-No, I'm done smoking. -Suit yourself.

Listen to me, Dumitru...

I know you think you've hit the jackpot,

but listen to me, you have to be really careful with this Anghel fellow.

Listen, as one man to another,

don't you think after being a mayor for so many years

it's time you allow others, too?

-Good evening, comrade Mayor. -Good evening.

And don't I allow them?

Didn't I let you? Have I done anything to you?

You haven't, I'm just saying that...

See?

You have to be very careful with him.

Listen to me, he's not a man, he's the devil himself!

Why are you saying such a thing?

Cornel, the Militia commander,

told me that he's a good man, that he helped him.

He helped his wife get hired to the new Oltcit auto factory in Craiova.

-He helped her get hired, my ass! -He did!

Yes, he hired her, but at the same time he hired him, too.

-Good evening! -Good evening.

What do you mean?

Now Anghel has something on the chief of the Militia, too. Now you get it?

Everything that Anghel says is sacred to him.

If anyone steals or embezzles and he's caught by the Militia,

he calls Anghel first to see if they know each other,

and only then it gets reported. Only if Anghel approves it, get it?

So has he got something on you, too?

-Good evening, comrade Mayor! -Good evening.

He's got something on all of us. He'll have something on you, too.

On me? Why?

What do you mean on me? For me, the law is the rule.

Dumitru, I'm telling you this from experience.

You do as you please.

-'Evening! -Cheers!

He's not a man, he's a monster! This Anghel fellow.

He has a saying...

-Good evening. -'Evening.

"My order must not be discussed, it must be obeyed."

Good evening and welcome!

We're ready. We were waiting for you.

Yes, comrade, it's all set, everybody's inside.

Good evening, comrade.

-Good evening, comrade! -Come on, comrade Dana.

Good evening and welcome!

Therefore,

after leading this city, as shown,

with outstanding results,

time has come to promote new people,

reliable,

who can come up with new ideas and fresh energies

for the prosperity of our beloved city

on its way to the rank of Municipality.

LONG LIVE THE COMMUNIST PARTY

AND ITS SECRETARY GENERAL, NICOLAE CEAUSESCU

I am giving the floor to our County's First Secretary,

the highly esteemed comrade Anghel.

Dear comrades, beloved Zimnicea residents,

as you already know, for our county and for the whole country as well,

Zimnicea is an exemplary city.

Indeed while it cannot be compared with the country's great industrial centres,

still the plan is getting fulfilled, isn't that so?

-Yeah... -Of course it's getting fulfilled!

You see... the fishing, the harbour, the power plant...

They all serve a purpose

and they all made Zimnicea a city we are proud of.

And which should be treasured by all of us.

Because the Party doesn't sleep.

The Party is thinking!

How can we make things work better?

How can we exceed and not just fulfill production goals?

How can we upgrade?

The answer is

a new mayor.

A young, energetic, responsible man.

A man in whom the Party, Zimnicea and me included

place all our trust and confidence.

Comrade Nicolae Dumitru.

A mayor from Zimnicea,

for Zimnicea.

Earthquake!

-Earthquake! -Keep calm!

Come on, easy! That's it.

That's it, we're here.

Come on, easy. Don't be scared!

Follow me.

Good God, this place is totalled. Come on, easy.

Easy, easy...

Come on, that's it.

Are you all right?

Let me move these things away a little.

It's okay now.

There you go, it's okay. Take a sit over here.

There you go, that's it...

Comrade First Secretary, it's over, we're fine.

We're fine.

How can you say that we are fine, Dumitru? How can you say that?