Watch Norman Manea: 25 Years in Translation

Norman Manea: 25 Years in Translation is a 2015 documentary film that chronicles the life and work of Romanian-American writer Norman Manea. The film takes a deep dive into Manea's career, exploring his experiences growing up in a Jewish community in Bukovina, Romania during World War II, his emigration to Israel, and his eventual move to the United States.

Over the course of 25 years, Manea has become one of the most prominent Romanian writers in the world. His work has been translated into numerous languages, including English, French, and German, and has garnered acclaim for its exploration of the complexity of the human condition.

The film features interviews with Manea himself, as well as his peers in the literary world, who offer insights into his work and his impact on the literary landscape. Archival footage and photographs are also used to provide a visual accompaniment to the conversations.

The documentary begins by exploring Manea's early life, growing up in a Jewish family in a Romanian community that was increasingly hostile to Jews in the lead-up to World War II. Manea describes witnessing the rise of anti-Semitism in the country, including the forced relocation of Jewish families to ghettos in the 1940s.

Manea's family managed to survive the war, and he eventually emigrated to Israel. There, he began to write in earnest, exploring the themes of displacement, identity, and trauma that would become central to his work.

The film goes on to explore Manea's eventual move to the United States, where he continued to write and gained recognition as one of the preeminent Romanian writers of his generation. Interviews with literary critics and scholars offer insights into Manea's unique voice and contributions to the literary canon.

Throughout the documentary, Manea himself is a compelling presence, offering candid reflections on his life and work. He discusses the challenges of writing about the complexities of his own identity, as a Romanian Jew living in the United States, and the political and cultural contexts that have shaped his writing.

The documentary also touches on Manea's involvement in political activism, particularly around issues of human rights in Romania. Manea was an outspoken critic of the brutal communist regime that ruled Romania for decades, and his writing often addressed the ways in which political oppression can shape individual lives.

Overall, Norman Manea: 25 Years in Translation is a richly layered exploration of the life and work of one of the most important Romanian writers of the past century. With its deft blend of archival footage, interviews, and contextualization, the film offers viewers a valuable window into the literary and cultural currents that have shaped Manea's work. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersections of literature, cultural identity, and political activism.