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This Is It

Name: This Is It
Director: Thomas Ciulei
Released: 2001
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

3.5/10

Limited

2001

Director

Thomas Ciulei

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Thomas Ciulei’s documentary provides a raw, ethnographic look at the inhabitants of Sulina following the collapse of the communist regime. It functions as a study of systemic displacement and economic precariousness rather than a vehicle for identity politics. By centering those left behind by shifting economic tides, it deconstructs conventional progress narratives and avoids romanticizing poverty. The film’s value lies in its observational realism and its profound critique of institutional stability and the human capacity for humor amidst hardship.

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Category Breakdown

Does This Is It have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

There are no visible LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing non-straight relationships.

How does This Is It portray gender?

Fair

The documentary captures a range of gendered experiences across three generations but does not challenge traditional gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is This Is It?

Fair

The cast is ethnically homogeneous due to the specific Romanian locale, providing depth to a regional identity often sidelined in Western-centric media.

How does This Is It represent religion and culture?

Good

The film excels in depicting the systemic struggles within the Danube Delta. It highlights human resilience and humor amidst the decay of a former trade hub.

Does This Is It include disability representation?

Minimal

Disability is not a central narrative driver. There is no evidence of disability being a featured element of the subjects' identities.

Present on Screen

Offers a nuanced critique of post-communist economic failures.
Captures deep, authentic regional identity and human resilience.
Avoids cinematic artifice to provide a raw, observational lens.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives.
Maintains a neutral stance regarding gendered power dynamics.
Features an ethnically homogeneous cast due to its specific setting.

Official Synopsis

Once a major wealthy town, Sulina is a victim of post-communist decline and disarray. Ten years after the fall of Ceausescu inhabitants still live in poverty. Despite their despair, there is room for dreams and humor. The Romanian town Sulina lies right in the no-man's-land of the Danube-delta, cut off from the rest of the world. Ten years after the fall of the communist regime the people here are worse off than ever. Sulina used to be a wealthy trade town. But with the decline of communism the economic connections petered out. The film portrays four of the region's inhabitants from three generations who just manage to get by.

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