Moldova is hardly known for it’s cinema across the world, but it does have a scene and it does have enough films which you can watch at home. Yes, for free and with english subtitles. So why not take this opportunity and discover Moldova through it’s films?
Below you will find a list of feature (8) and short films (27). Some have the subtitles straightaway, for some you’ll need to press the captions button. Keep in mind this selection contains both student and professional films, hence the quality may vary. So grab your popcorn and enjoy!
Short Films
Duration: 15 mins an episode
Type: Web series / Fictional
Lost in Moldova is a comedy about the adventures of a Peace Corps volunteer that finds himself in a place completely different from what he imagined – Moldova. The story is loosely inspired by the experiences of the writer, John Lewis, which was a volunteer himself in Moldova 20 years ago. You can watch all the 3 episodes on their youtube channel – here. If you enjoyed it and would like to see more episodes, then you can help them finish filming with a donation on their crowdfunding page.
Duration: 11:11
Type: Fictional
A short film with no dialogue exploring the Lazarus Syndrome — the return of spontaneous circulation after CPR has been stopped. You fill find 2 feature films by the same director at the bottom of this list.
Duration: 27 minutes
Type: Fictional
In translation as the “Big House”, this beautifully shot movie is the graduation film as director of Calin Laur. The story being an adaptation from the famous local playwrighter Ion Druta, depicting the drama and simplicity of moldovan life in countryside. This film is perfect to get you introduced to the traditional moldovan style, from houses, decorations and clothing, all the way to customs.
Duration: 8:10 mins
Type: Fictional
Despite being uploaded not in the best quality, it is a short film very well known and worthy to watch. Directed by one of the most famous moldovan directors, Igor Cobileanski, the film is a witty comedy about a bet that gets out of control, spreading all the way into the local community. If you like the style of Cobileanski, you can check out his comedic feature film “Eastern Business”.
Duration: 20 mins
Type: Fictional
This film was the directorial debut of the famous moldovan actor Valeriu Andriuta, well known for his roles in Sergei Loznitka’s “Donbass” film and Cristian Mungiu’s “Beyond the hills”. Chers Amis was the first short film out of a triptych of shorts, depicting the story of a school during winter in rural Moldova. The other two shorts at the moment are not available online, however you can view some of Valeriu’s acting work also in a few other films mentioned here on the list.
Duration: 19 mins
Type: Fictional
“What can happen when love calls you from Romania to the Republic of Moldova…” being it’s logline, guarantees a story that will keep you entertained. A short that was released in 2020, being a fresh moldovan/ romanian collaboration.
Duration: 44 mins
Type: Documentary
Part of the „The World from Dawn till Dusk” project, which was founded by film teachers from Poland, this is a documentary following a day in the life of the city Chisinau through various characters and moments. Filmed by Nicu Drăgan, Vlad Bolgarin, Sergiu Pădurean, Natalia Shaufert, Ilinca Stâncă, Lucia Lupu, Victor Gălușcă, Andrei Moraru, Olga Lucovnicov, Xenia Ciuvașev, Lucian Ciubotaru, all being students at the Arts Academy at the time (2012).
Duration: 18 mins
Type: Fictional
“Resilience” – a short historic religious fiction film, depicting the cruel past of Moldova, beginning with invasion of Tatar – Mongols and ending with Soviet army. A reflection of Moldovan nation.
“It is a film of non-defeat and a film of gratitude for all those who were our ancestors and who passed on to us today, both genetically and morally and historically, the true strength of our nation.”
Duration: 3:50 mins
Type: Documentary
An experimental documentary about the decorative motifs of moldovan houses from the south region of the country. Edited in a dynamic manner, with a folk infused background music, this short will catch your interest pretty fast.
Duration: 15 mins
Type: Documentary
4 years ago Victor Maxian, the director of this film, while searching for inspiration for his graduation project, stumbled upon 4000 developed films in the attic of an abandoned house. Surprised to say the least was his reaction when he realised that what he found was a one of a kind collection of pictures taken by Zaharia Cusnir. A photographer which from the 50’s-70’s was shooting the life of people in soviet Moldovan villages. Since then this collection took him on a journey of exhibitions, film screenings, a book being printed and currently working on a feature documentary about it. If you’d like to discover more about this interesting story, you can view the interview with the director here and you can view the full photo collection here.
Duration: 15 mins
Type: Documentary
A visual essay exploring the wheel at a simple mill, however interconnected with everything around through various references. Full of symbolism, this cinematic piece is the graduation film of the filmmaker Andrei Moraru, shot in 2015.
Duration: 21 mins
Type: Documentary
Translated as “On the Edge of the Forest”, this is a short documentary showing the reality of living in a poor non perspective family. Directed and shot by John Donica, a well known moldovan cinematographer which currently resides and works in Japan. The film was screened at various festivals.
Duration: 21 mins
Type: Fictional
More of an experimental university exercise, never the less an interesting mix of images, film and voiceover.
Duration: 20:40 mins
Type: Documentary
Maria Gutu, mostly known as a documentary photographer, finished her studies at the Arts Academy in Chisinau. Her graduation film was a documentary about the life in village Duruitoarea, a perfect portrayal of the struggles that people in villages are dealing with.
Duration: 16 mins
Type: Fictional
A beautiful adaption of the novel ‘Withering” by the romanian author Liviu Rebreanu, directed by Victor Organ. Picturesque landscapes and soulful music that will touch you.
Duration: 5 mins
Type: Documentary
A bit of shameless plug never hurt nobody. This is a short film that was made during the “Film Together” Programme, documenting the story of a family that left their city life and moved to the countryside for a better life.
Duration: 21:34 mins
Type: Documentary
A film documenting the innocence of childhood in the reality of village life. For some this film might raise nostalgia of their summers spent in the countryside.
Duration: 27:30 mins
Type: Fictional
“The Fall” is the graduation film of Vlad Bolgarin from 2016 from the Arts Academy. A film with an intriguing narrative, which starts raising questions to look at yourself. Since graduation, Vlad was involved in many other productions, including an animation film which was screened and won awards at various international festivals.
Duration: 12:57 mins
Type: Fictional
A story from the Stalinist period in Moldova during WW2. Graduation film of Victor Organ, who’s passion for the past got him to start collecting pictures up to 60’s from all across the country in the project Rama Albastra. You can support his work through buying him a coffee here.
Duration: 5:40 mins
Type: Fictional
Dumitru Grosei is a famous moldovan filmmaker who finished his film studies in Romania, this being a film from that period, end of the 90’s. Nowadays he shoots documentaries which are screened and awarded at festivals internationally. You can also watch his graduation film “Voila” here, which was shown at Cannes in the Short Film Corner section.
Duration: 17:37 mins
Type: Fictional
“Vadim, convinced his girlfriend Simona, to make an abortion. His way to the clinic is interrupted by a range of obstacles. Once arrived at the doctor, Simona doesn’t find Vadim. Suddenly, Vadim finds himself between life and death. In the end, a miracle happens and resolves everything.”
Duration: 22:28 mins
Type: Fictional
“The film tells a story about a five-year-old girl, Milika, who lives with her grandmother in a small village in Moldavia. Her parents are divorced and went separate ways starting new lives of their own. Milika is trying to restore the family. Will her dream come true?”
Duration: 44 mins
Type: Documentary
There are many films about ecological problems, but this documentary explores the issues that are encountered in Moldova with the garbage disposal.
Duration: 24:24 mins
Type: Fictional
Graduation film by Natalia Shaufert, exploring a tragedy in a rural setting.
Duration: 13:37 mins
Type: Fictional
A short about a man’s attempt to sell his grandparents house in the countryside. However, his ignorance and disrespect have a price.
Duration: 31:35 mins
Type: Fictional
Another graduation film, beautifully shot and with a warm tone.
Duration: 24:59 mins
Type: Fictional
A short film that explores the topic of life and death.
Feature FilmS
Duration: 1:19:20 mins
Type: Fictional
Nineteen-year-old Viorel lives with his mother in a remote Moldovan town. He has no great ambitions nor any illusions about life. Directed by Igor Cobileanski and screenplay written together with the romanian filmmaker Corneliu Porumboiu.
Duration: 1:46:30 mins
Type: Fictional
“In his fight for justice, Andrei resorts to some methods that are not exactly legal. What will be the price he has to pay in order to get what he wants?”
Duration: 1:14:54 mins
Type: Fictional
“An ex-military pilot starts new life as a farmer in Moldavian countryside. Having realised that his wife, who had gone to Italy to earn more money, will never come back, he decide to send his 2 daughters to her and her new Italian husband.”
Duration: 1:12:12 mins
Type: Fictional
“After two years spent as a student in Boston, a 22-year-old visits his native Moldova. It is April 2009. People gather in the streets of Chisinau, the call having spread through social networking sites. They are demonstrating against the communist authorities who falsified the election results. They seize and plunder the parliament and presidential buildings. The demonstrators carry away documents, furniture and office equipment. Our protagonist (Igor Babiac) is coming from a friend’s home carrying his own computer monitor. He is mistaken for a demonstrator, brutally beaten up by the police and taken to the police station. His interrogator is an experienced major. The authorities can do anything. Based on real events, the film asks questions about freedom, justice and the price of human life.”
Duration: 1:21:33 mins
Type: Fictional
A story about a woman that lives unhappily married to an abusive husband. In order to support her family she goes abroad for work, where she encounters more abuse. After 8 years when she returns back home, she discovers there’s nothing left for her anymore: her husband has a new family, the house has been sold.
Duration: 1:35:00 mins
Type: Fictional
“Based on his international best selling book, Tony Hawks makes another of his bets that he can track down & beat the entire Moldovan national football team at tennis and sets off to Moldova on the adventure of a lifetime.”
Duration: 1:05:09 mins
Type: Fictional
A story about a couple that met on the internet. Ana (18) moved to the city where she discovers a new world. But soon her love with Andrei starts changing colours.
Duration: 1:00:17 mins
Type: Documntary
A heartwarming documentary about a refugee from Congo that settled in Moldova. He lives in the village Pepeni with his wife and 2 children. He manages to integrate well in the society despite his skin colour.
Road To Moldova 