Movie spotlight
Children of the Decree
Procreation is the social duty of all fertile women, was the political thinking during the 1960s and 1970s in Romania. In 1966, Ceaucescu issued Decree 770, in which he forbade abortion for all women unless they were over forty or were already taking care of four children. All forms of contraception were totally banned. The New Romanian Man was born. By 1969, the country had a million babies more than the previous average. Romanian society was rapidly changing. By using very interesting archival footage and excerpts from old fiction films and by interviewing famous personalities from that time – gynecologists or mothers who were part of the new society - the director revives this period of tremendous oppression of personal freedom. Many deaths were caused by the mere fact that women, including wives of secret Romanian agents, famous TV presenters, and actresses, had to undergo illegal abortions. Many women were jailed for having them.
Insights
Plot Summary
A driven woman, Hilde, finds herself caught between her ambitious career and her demanding family life. She is a prosecutor who has put away many criminals. Now, she must confront her own past and family secrets when a case hits too close to home. The film explores the complex dynamics of ambition, morality, and personal sacrifice.
Critical Reception
Children of the Decree received mixed to positive reviews, with many critics praising Ane Dahl Torp's performance and the film's exploration of complex ethical dilemmas. Some found the pacing to be slow at times, but the overall narrative was generally considered thought-provoking.
What Reviewers Say
Praises for Ane Dahl Torp's compelling lead performance.
Acknowledges the film's thoughtful examination of moral ambiguity.
Some criticism regarding the film's deliberate pacing.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews and their sentiment is not readily available for this film.
Fun Fact
Ane Dahl Torp, who plays the lead prosecutor, later went on to achieve international recognition for her role in the Netflix series 'Bortført' (Home for Christmas).
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