Beyond the picturesque villages and stunning nature, a national crisis of severe abandonment and neglect is occurring throughout Romania’s rural communities due to high emigration rates and a lack of interest in people ever returning home from abroad. The following expository documentary uncovers the reality and truth of the situation behind the mass exodus Romania has suffered throughout its recent history, from the people that were left behind—looking into the possibility of hope for a revival of rural Romania through those that emigrated or the possibility of bringing new life into these desolate villages. It is a project that encapsulates hope, people, emotions and the human spirit through in-depth stories about the past, the present and the future of the village and its residents.
The village of Firijba used to be home to over 300 people in its past glory, and now only 14 people are left. While some don’t seem too optimistic about the future, others still hope for the best, whether it is their family members returning home or new younger people searching for a quiet life, especially after enduring countless lockdowns and restrictions throughout the pandemic in the cities. Without anyone in a higher decision-making position that can push development projects of a rural revival throughout Romania, Firijba and other villages will become pieces of history forgotten by time. Is there hope for a revival of rural Romania, or is the bread just too far away?
This documentary aims to bring to light the stories of people stuck in their daily routines, an ongoing situation of hopeless older people either awaiting their death or still holding on to a speck of hope to see the day their children and grandchildren return home. The struggles of rural life in a village forgotten by time, encapsulates the severity of a problematic situation of abandonment and depopulation.
In an unreal time, reality is found in the life and simplicity of these people, who live only for a future day when they will see their children again who have gone abroad. Time stood still for them, as the same group of people remained with the same daily activities. For them, nothing is new, as they live in the antithesis of the times. Simple people with warm and clean souls.
