Between Silence and Sin

Romania, USA2024documentary97'Focus on Romania

Not very many people are aware of her real name, which is Otilia Valeria Coman. As a daughter of the ‘enemy of the people’, she had to adopt a pen name to be able to have her poems published. Nevertheless, even as Ana Blandiana she was frowned upon by the authorities. Her poetry outraged Nicolae Ceaușescu and his entourage, but it enchanted and touched her readers and literature afficionados, also from outside of communist Romania. The poems of the legendary author crossed national boundaries and her volumes were published in the West – yet despite many opportunities, she decided to stay in her country. A modest lady with a smile, she did not perceive herself as a political authority, even though some people thought she might become a member of the new government after the dictator’s fall. The new system did not change her. She remained a master of words, faithful to herself and critical of the authorities.