I'm an Old Communist Hag (Sunt o babă comunistă)

Aren't you getting off?

- Where are you from? - From Fântânele.

- Who are your parents? - Costică Buran.

- And where are you going? - to Aunt Lucreția.

Come, then.

I ran away from home like a thief.

There's no place my poor parents didn't search for me.

Poor Auntie Lucreția had to go calm them down.

For a while, I didn't go home, until my parents got over it.

Hello?

Oh, it's you!

I'm well.

I didn't hear it ring and by then you'd already hung up.

What about you, how are you?

He's tending to his fowls on Mondays.

Are you doing OK at work?

You're coming?

Well, you're the one who has to like him, sweetie.

When are you coming?

OK, bye!

When I told Țucu that I wanted to name her Alice,

he looked at me like I was crazy.

He wanted a regular name, one you'd hear at the hairdresser's.

I AM AN OLD COMMUNIST HAG

- Cheers! - Cheers, Mr. Țucu!

Do you have two cups?

Descovina?

You've never had this one before, it's from my own supply.

I'll have some apples from your personal supply.

Mr. Țucu...

What do you think? Are we a Republic?

Aren't we currently a Republic?

- Well, not really. - What do you mean?

- Since do we have a Republic? - Well, since when?

Since the Russians came in with their tanks.

Yeah, because before that we had a King.

So, is 60 years enough to be considered a Republic?

- How many years then? - At least 200.

Hello, how are you?

- How are you? - Good, is the family coming over?

- No, later. - Later? We're saving money.

Listen, got anything for mosquitoes?

Oh, mosquitoes! I have something.

No mosquitoes, no flies. "Everything runs."

Goat meat. It's very good.

The production of the film "Life in Communism" is hiring extras.

Find out more at the Decebal hotel, between 8 AM and 6 PM.

A little late, Mr. Țucu.

How are you doing, boys? I'll join you shortly.

Six-four ‘like the stage floor'.

How's it going, Mr. Pirpiliu?

- Cat got your tongue? - Ah, you're on your schedule.

- Hasn't anyone said a kind word to you today? - Cheers!

Come over, Mr. Pirpiliu!

Roll the dice already.

- Alice called, she's coming in ten days. - Really?

Yes, and she's bringing her boyfriend, Alin, so we can meet him.

- He's coming too? - Yes, she said so.

- And when are they coming? - In ten days.

What are these?

They're doing a movie on Ceaușescu and I thought you might be interested.

Weren't you going to shake his hand? Ceaușescu?

Let me see what you got.

Eggs. These are from my sister.

They grew nicely this year.

Yes, at the market.

What market? I picked them myself.

- And what's that? - Check it out.

It's a mosquito repellent.

Look...

You put a tablet in here…

And then you plug it in.

The production of the film "Life in Communism" is hiring extras.

Find out more at the Decebal hotel, between 8 AM and 6 PM.

We await you!

You know, Țucu...

Our apartment block looks like crap.

It hasn't been touched since the day it was built.

It should be power washed to hide how dirty it is.

What will that man say when he sees us like this?

Who?

Alice's boyfriend.

Well, we can't build a new one by the time they arrive.

At least the main hallway. It's shameful.

What if he's black?

Who?

The young man.

Your have nothing but silly thoughts.

Let go.

Sleep tight.

Do you know where the rubbing alcohol is?

It's there, look harder.

I told you to stop using my shaver!

Come drink your tea. It's getting cold.

3,000 to 4,000 lei at best.

- I think you should sell the car. - Who the hell would buy it?

Aren't there those ads on TV?

Yeah, but you need to buy a new one.

What about… the "Friendship Fund"?

It's gone.

But why do you need so much?

Well, a new TV... We've had this one for ages.

A hairdresser appointment, new paint for the hallway, plus food.

We should be thankful if we manage to do it with 30.

I can get you cheese and eggs.

Can you serve cheese and eggs three times a day?

What the hell do we do?

Can't your sister, Catrina, lend us some money?

Her son is building a house.

Ask Sanda.

It's boiling hot in here, you can't do without a fan.

I'll leave it here and you can pay me later.

That's the last thing I need!

I'm desperately looking for money for my daughter's visit, and you…

Exactly, your daughter's coming from the States, where

even bathrooms have ACs.

I'll leave you this for the bathroom and this one for the living room.

This one's incredible, look.

- It even hydrates you. - Stop, you've made me all wet.

Well, it hydrates you, sis.

And when you get two of these, you get this extra massaging device.

It's perfect for cox-arthritis, for spondylosis... check it out.

It's good for your back.

Oh! There's also this device.

Look, with this device, you walk around the house and

by moving the dolphin across your skin, it breaks down all your cellulite.

- Cellulite? But I eat very little. - It's not about how much you eat,

it's about how your body absorbs it. I don't eat much either.

Look, this one…

No, I'll leave you these two if you want.

This one and the massaging device. You can pay me later.

Don't you get that I need 3,000 lei so I don't embarrass myself?

And you're pestering me with with all of these gadgets.

Won't Aurelia lend me some money?

I don't think she has. You can ask...

But I doubt it because she's not doing well.

I'll lend you some money.

Let me see how much I have.

Careful, you need to get organic food. Don't just get anything.

It's more expensive, but that's what's popular over there.

2, 3, 4, 5…

I was supposed to give them to a wholesaler but I'll figure it out.

Thank you.

And I'll also leave you these two fans.

No, no. I don't need them.

You can pay me later.

No need. You've lent me money, it's enough, thank you.

- Whatcha doing there, Maricica? - Hello!

Do you have any cornflour?

- Isn't it too small to eat that? - No, it sure can eat it.

- Wait here. - I'll wait. Thank you!

Give me a bag of cornflour.

- Which kind? - Whichever.

If you keep drinking we won't be able to go outside anymore in this mess.

We drink on our own money, lady. What's your problem?

- Here you go, Maricica. - Thank you.

- When I get my pension… - God bless you!

Hello!

- Hello! - Forgive me!

I've called a few times but the line was busy.

- Yes, come in, please. - Thank you.

I have some old fabric for a dress.

Alice is coming over with her fiancee.

I'd like for you to make me something nice to wear.

Yes, but… I don't really tailor anymore.

My sight isn't as good anymore.

But, please, come in.

- Would you like some tea, water? - Water.

Yes, of course.

- I haven't seen you in a long time. - Yes…

- I've been at the courthouse lately. - Why?

To get back the building where my dad had his tailor workshop.

- How's Alice? - She's well, I'm waiting for her.

I miss her so much. I'd like to see her.

She was right to leave.

- You think so? - Yes.

The way I know her… It would've been very hard for her here.

If I were her age…

I would've done the same, without thinking twice.

But why, Ms. Stroescu?

Because I'm sick of communism.

It destroyed my life.

I wanted to be a painter, but I couldn't due to a bad record.

That's why I became a tailor, to make a living.

And now I'm fighting for what's mine.

And I'm still bumping into them.

Their children, their nephews.

You've never told me this before.

Because I didn't think you'd be interested.

- Who is it? - The pension!

- Hello, ma'am, how are you? - Just fine!

This is my girlfriend, Celina.

Hello.

Celina is working on a film and she's looking for communists.

And I told her I know one.

- What if I wasn't home? - I would've followed your trail.

Do you still have your communist party membership book?

- I threw it out. - I don't believe you.

What if communism comes back?

I'd make a new one.