Watch Acasa, My Home

Acasa, My Home is a 2020 documentary film directed by Radu Ciorniciuc, which follows the Enache family as they are forced to leave their home in the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta and enter city life after being discovered living in isolation in the protected wetlands of Romania's capital. The family consists of Gica and his wife Niculina, along with their nine children, who were born and raised in the Delta, with no access to education or healthcare.

The film explores the family's struggle to adapt to living in the city, where they are moved into a cramped apartment and must adjust to living without the freedom, fresh air, and natural resources they had relied on for generations. The children, who had once been free to roam and explore in the wild Delta, are now confined to the apartment, where they must navigate the challenges of attending school for the first time and adjusting to the social norms of their new environment.

As the family becomes more acclimated to the city, the film also delves into the growing tensions between Gica and Niculina, as they each struggle with the changes in their lives and the loss of their former way of life. Gica, who had been the master of his own domain in the Delta, is now left feeling powerless as he must navigate the complex bureaucracy of the city, seek employment, and provide for his family. Meanwhile, Niculina yearns for the freedom and independence she once had in the Delta, where she could hunt, fish, and forage for the family's sustenance.

Throughout the film, we also see the impact that city life has on the Delta itself, as the family's former home is transformed by development and lost to history. The film raises important questions about the impact of modernization and urbanization on traditional ways of life, and the cost that such changes impose on individuals and communities.

The Enache family are intriguing subjects, and viewers become heavily invested in their struggle to adapt to their new surroundings. Each member of the family is dynamic and interesting, and their personal journeys and struggles feel relatable and compelling. Additionally, the film is shot beautifully, with stunning visuals of the Bucharest Delta and the city, and the contrast between the two environments is striking.

The documentary is a poignant exploration of the human cost of modernization, and it offers a deeply moving portrait of a family that has been forced to leave behind everything they have ever known. The film highlights the beauty of the Delta and the value of preserving traditional ways of life, even in the face of political and economic pressures to modernize.

Overall, Acasa, My Home is a incredibly well-crafted documentary that offers a profound and moving exploration of the intersection of urbanization, traditional ways of life, and the human cost of progress. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in environmentalism, social justice, or the impact of change on individuals and communities.

Acasa, My Home is a 2021 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 82.