If you have been flipping through the current cinema schedule and stumbled over the most provocative title in the crowd, you might be surprised to hear that it's actually a film with local involvement: despite its English title and Italian credits, Diaz – Don't Clean Up This Blood is a drama with substantial Romanian production and casting input (in picture, Romanian actress Monica Bîrlădeanu).

A co-production with France and Italy, the drama is based on a true story, namely the harrowing events during the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001. On the summit's last day the police raided an abandoned school used by protestors as a nightly shelter, making their shockingly violent attack on the peaceful crowd a worldwide outrage and prompting Amnesty International to call the events the "most serious transgression of democratic rights in a Western country since the Second World War ."

The pic snatched the Audience Award at this year's International Film Festival Berlin and it was definitely one of its most impressive films, especially in the emotional sense of the word. Given the subject matter, it comes as no surprise that violence is involved but the film is a bit too keen on brutal beatings and blood gushing everywhere.

The multi-lingual cast are very strong, but the audience are seldom allowed to emotionally bond with them since there are so many parallel stories and actors involved. Images and editing are good and fittingly stirring. It will leave you shaken up, even if not particularly enlightened about the background and motives behind the tragedy.

On a more technical note it is good to see Romania taking part in international co-productions as it has been a rare so far for the local industry. Let's hope the tendency goes up. 

Bottom line: if you are up for an adrenaline-fueled, passionate take on recent history don't let this one pass unseen. The cinemas showing Diaz are listed on the Cinemagia website.

Check out the official website for more details. And watch the trailer below.

Ioana Moldovan, Columnist, ioana.moldovan@romania-insider.com 

(photo source: Diaz' official website)