Ana Blandiana, a beloved Romanian poet and cultural icon, has been featured in Rowan University film Professor Diana Nicolae’s documentary „Between Silence and Sin.” The film details Blandiana’s life, career, and legacy, which was showcased at the Docs for Sale market of the IDFA documentary film festival in Amsterdam. Blandiana, who was one of the earliest promoters of democracy in Romania, was convicted and executed following the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Her poetry was banned multiple times under Ceaușescu’s regime, but her countrymen and women loved her writing so much that they would transcribe her poems by hand, carry them around, and share them with others.
Blandiana’s greatest legacy may be her commitment to democracy. She and her late husband, writer Romulus Rusan, founded the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to the Resistance in Romania, along with a summer school for studies on recent history. Nicolae hopes that the story of Blandiana’s continued fight for democracy inspires others, particularly younger generations who may be less aware of the history.
Blandiana’s dissident status remains controversial even today, possibly because some of the perpetrators of the crimes in Romania are still alive and still in power. Little is known about her work to reveal the truth and build a strong civic society, and many younger generations don’t know much about her.
Blandiana is continuing the tradition of generations of Romanian poets as the country has a rich history within poetry dating back centuries. One of the best known early poems, The medieval epic „Miorița” reflects pastoral themes and resilience. Romanian poetry reached its Golden Era in the 19th century, which saw the emergence of national Romanticism with poets like Vasile Alecsandri. Mihai Eminescu, considered Romania’s national poet, brought Symbolism and Romanticism, influencing generations.
The interwar period introduced avant-garde movements, while communist rule led to censorship. Post-1989, poets like Nichita Stănescu embraced diverse styles.
