User Reviews

Was it a revolution? Was it a coup? Who was in control? Was it the military? Was it the armed militia? Nobody really knows actually. But what we do know is that the events depicted in this movie - which took place more than 16 years ago - changed the history of a country.

The film tells the story of a young militia force soldier on the night the alleged Romanian revolution takes place. He is young, he is a bit confused, a bit enthusiastic, a bit scared. Yet he decides to disobey his superior and go fight on the side of the people to protect the national television headquarters against the terrorists. Soon after he leaves, his mates decide to abandon their patrolling mission and go in search of him. But somewhere along the way, things turn terribly wrong. For everybody. Because there is fighting on the streets, because its dark and its cold, because nobody knows whose supposed to fight who, where everybody else is (as the soldier, Cristi, never gets to the TV headquarters), who the terrorists are, what the recognition password is...

The characters all seem to fit so well with the general confusion but also adding compassion and humor to the whole story that one might think this is almost a documentary of real events. Of course, this is achieved through an attention for detail that only those familiar with Romania would truly appreciate. But do not let that put you off; the real message of this film has nothing to do with specific issues and humor transcends borders.

Trying to be as objective as possible, given the clever directing, natural and sharp dialog, solid script, I can only give this movie a 9, as nothing that is country-specific will detract from the pleasure of watching this movie. Highly recommended!

This is a film about one of the most iconic and fateful events of the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, the liberation of Romania in December, 1989. It was the most brutal confrontation of that historical period, and the one that is perhaps least understood.

The film opens with a scene of senseless violence, a case of confusion and wild gunfire in the dawn hours of December 23, 1989. This serves as the context and creates the mood of panic, confusion and deadly danger of this film.

The film takes us inside an armored militia vehicle as it patrols the streets of Bucharest on the darkest night of revolution. The soldiers are confused, unsure of even the most basic truths about their job: Who are they protecting? What are they defending and who are they fighting? Who are they serving? What country is this? The soldiers have no idea,and they prefer not to think about it.

This is the story of revolution. What seems to us such heroic activity guided by higher ideals of liberty and justice, is often unimaginable confusion and wasteful carnage.

The performances are very good, the characterizations low keyed and hemmed in, just as these soldiers are hemmed in by the circumstances they find themselves in. The dialog is terse and chattering, in nervous counterpoint to the deadly serious events. But the events are at times mercilessly confusing, and this tends to decrease the impact of some of the key scenes. Just because the characters are confused doesn't mean that the film viewers should be as well! This is especially true at the television station when it is quite difficult to tell which side the soldiers there are defending.

In general, the film is quite successful in that it brings the viewer into that time and place, and makes the madness come alive. I think there is room for further development of some of the characters, as there is so much irony in their predicament that is only obliquely alluded to. As for the ending, I was a bit disappointed that the filmmaker chose not to show the final scene that we are left to imagine. It seems like a choice of modesty that does not give full impact to the pathological nature of war.

It may take a few lines to get this review going, because this movie has left me speechless. The first word I think of to apply to it is beautiful - not beautiful in any ordinary sense, just exquisitely beautiful movie-making.

Paper tells a thoroughly believable story of very ordinary people - people who feel to me like family and friends even though theirs is a nation and a culture and a language about as far from mine as possible - ordinary people just like me, in unbelievably extraordinary and terrifying circumstances. And yet it is a true story, and what is even more amazing: it FEELS true. Watching it is as close to living it, as close to actually myself BEING one of the characters on screen, as I have ever experienced while watching any movie in the 55+ years I have been watching movies.

This is a great work of art, and an important aspect of its greatness is its smallness, its intimacy, its consummate accessibility: the way it draws me INTO itself instead of dazzling me with technology or cinematic trickery. It is simple; it is real; it is harrowing; it is transcendent.

In just over 91 minutes it opens to me an astonishing place called Romania and an astonishingly courageous and beautiful people called Romanians. And after taking my heart and my mind on a journey like none I have ever experienced before, over the end credits plays one of the most beautiful songs ever written sung by one of the greatest singers who ever lived.

I wish I could express more effectively how profoundly I thank God and Radu Muntean for this movie.

I feel sorry that i haven't watched this movie till now ,this is a masterpiece , this is a quality movie a piece of art, this is the end of Communism in Romania and the start of Capitalism ? so which road is the best ? and what really happened ? Nobody knows for sure ,in this travel you ll discover that human people pays the debt for all this stupidness and not only in Romania but in every other country.Hîrtia va fi albastrã reaches the level of Taxi Driver or the Godfather or the Deerhunter .Its the movie that you wanna watch again and again.The viewer enters to the screen and takes the place of the actors this movie has a human touch like no other movie i have watched till now Full of emotions excellent casting excellent direction excellent music etc. Αlso i d like to mention the excellent plot and writing. Don't miss this film and the end is amazing best end for a movie in many many years of cinema.This movie worths an Oscar nomination for best foreign movie.I really missed this way of making films with human factors only and without effects and computers and fx things .Films made from people for the people."Simple people suffering always of the madness of bad leadership inside and outside of all the countries of the world but ...it is for their own good as the leaders of this mad world keep saying."

DRKLABS

This movie trying to prove that we are still human beings and we asking for help and guidance but no one is available to help and guide us so in the end we simply die happily after got tired from thinking and suffering and messing around and around like a goldfish in the glass bowl and finally guess what? we have found true freedom. God may show mercy on every poor people suffering on this crazy world PIECE TO THE DEAD OF ALL WORLD SPENDED THEIR LIFES FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE FREE WE LL NEVER FORGET YOU

After the fall of communism in Romania, civilians are encouraged to fight and protect a local TV station. One soldier leaves his group to fight with them. Like many Romanian films of late, this film has strong historical and social value to Romania. And like other Romanian films I have seen, not a lot happens. I mean that in the sense of actual events. A lot of this film is set in the back of a truck. Unfortunately, I also found this film to be the least engaging and the least accessible. 12:08 East of Bucharest, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and The Death of Mr. Lazarescu were all instant classics and in among the best films of the last 10 years. I think the dark and pale cinematography, lead me to become tired and bored of the subject going on. A lot of it is interesting, but the beginning/end didn't carry the emotional impact I have come to expect from the Romanian New Wave.