Down With Hitler! Down With Antonescu! Down With the Death Penalty!

In 1942, three Jewish teenagers were executed in Bucharest. They were accused of distributing banknotes with anti-fascist slogans: «Down with Hitler! Down with Antonescu!» Ten years later, the mother of one of them writes a letter to the Romanian Communist Party in an attempt to clear her son's name. He was not even allowed to say goodbye to his family. Stylized in a retro black-and-white aesthetic, the film by the renowned Romanian director Andreea Vălean presents a monologue by the mother (portrayed by Katia Pascariu). Desperately trying to find the right words, she recounts the story of the cruel murder of innocent young boys, captured on camera.

Directed by Andreea Vălean, Down With Hitler! Down With Antonescu! Down With the Death Penalty! leans on a strong ensemble — Katia Pascariu — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2022.