CHUCK NORRIS VS. COMMUNISM

Chuck Norris vs. Communism

Documentary

2015 / UK, Romania, Germany / in Romanian with English subtitles / 78 minutes / Format: DCP

Directed by: Ilinca Calugareanu

Print Source: Vernon Films

In 1980s Romania, a VHS player cost as much as a car and American action films were a symbol of freedom. The focus of the documentary is Irina Nistor, a young woman working in the state censor’s office, who gets an offer from a co-worker who deals in bootleg videotapes on the sly. Through their partnership, she translates over a thousand films into the Romanian language, giving access to anyone with the right connections a window into to the American way of life as illustrated by Sly Stallone and Purple Rain. Through flawless reenactments and witness accounts, we see how the forbidden allure of American films equalled dissent in the Soviet era, as Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris weren’t just overexposed, cheesy action stars; they were the forbidden fruit that would spark a world-changing revolution.