Collective

Collective is a gripping documentary revealing the uncompromising power of investigative journalism. A tragic fire at Bucharest’s Colectiv club leaves 27 dead and 180 injured then later more victims die in hospitals from non life-threatening wounds. Unlikely hero, intrepid journalist Cătălin Tolontan, who actually writes for a sports journal, takes the lead in a comprehensive investigation that uncovers whistle blowers, shocking state corruption and unprecedented access to the new health minister’s reform plans. But there are great obstacles facing all those struggling for justice and a more accountable government.

‘The Colectiv fire was a national trauma. We had mass demonstrations that really felt like a wave of big change. For the first time it felt like the young generation was fed up and wanted to get rid of all the corruption… We thought following the press might be the right angle from which you could really describe the mechanisms of society, the relationship between power and citizens. When Tolontan saw that our team was thorough and serious about the investigations we’d done, I think that made him trust us. One day he called and said, “Listen, I might have something. I can’t tell you what it is, but we might be ready to let you film some of it.” And we ended up in this whole vortex of revelations.’

Alexander Nanau, Director