The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are involved in the promotion of the documentaries „Marie – Heart of Romania”, „The King’s War” and „King Michael: the Journey Home”.
The National History Tour, now in its third year, which promotes the historical documentaries „Marie – Heart of Romania”, „The King’s War” and „King Michael: the Journey Home”, is entering a new phase as filmmakers John Florescu and Chainsaw Film Production make it more accessible to all audiences, including students and the elderly, war veterans and isolated rural communities.
This is also made possible by the involvement of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who recognize the educational value of the project and want to help promote it. Thus, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the film „Marie – Heart of Romania” will also reach the Romanian Cultural Institute’s representations in 30 French-speaking countries.
Andrei Luca, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for Cultural Diplomacy, Education and Science: „ Marie – Heart of Romania was included in the package of films selected to mark 30 years of Romania’s membership of the institutional Francophonie, alongside other artistic, documentary and short films. In addition to the artistic and documentary quality, the reason for choosing this film is the desire to make known to the general public in various countries one of the most important personalities in Romania’s modern history, the main architect of the recognition of the Great Union by the great powers of the post-war world.”
This year’s tour will include more than 25 towns and villages in Romania, and the access for the public will be free of charge.
The three films produced by John Florescu and directed by Trevor Poots have gained national and international recognition, winning multiple prestigious awards.
„Marie – Heart of Romania” (2018) received the Silver Award at TIFF 2019 and the Audience Award at the 2019 Rasnov Film Festival, it won the Jury Award at the 14th IPIFF (Independent Producers Indie Film Festival) and it was named Best History Film by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania (CCIFER).
„The King’s War” (2016) was awarded by the Romanian Cultural Institute in 2017 at the Cinepolitica Festival for best historical documentary film. Also, the most recent production, „King Michael: the Journey Home” (2021), won the award for Best Documentary Film at the 17th IPIFF (15 May 2023), received the public vote at TIFF 2022 and will enter the European Broadcasting Union Film Competition – 2023 edition.
„The King’s War” and „Marie – Heart of Romania” premiered on ProTV and were subsequently broadcast on the History Channel. „King Michael: the Journey Home” premiered on the History Channel.
The three films „Marie – Heart of Romania”, „The King’s War” and „King Michael: the Journey Home” cover 160 years of Romanian history (1860 – 2017). „History belongs to everyone” is the motto of John Florescu. John Florescu: „I think Nicolae Iorga captured most eloquently the importance of knowing our historical past when he wrote that a nation that does not know its history is like a child that does not know its parents.”
Dan Drăghicescu, who was appointed Executive Director of the National History Tour by John Florescu: „History well understood in the present reflects the future, especially for younger generations. History presented through historical documentary films is the easy way for young people to learn this part of history that has been missing from textbooks in recent decades.” Dan Drăghicescu was also associate producer in the making of these films.
Daniel Florin Mărginean, Rotary Club: „I was happy to receive the invitation to join this important educational project. Rotarians from the two countries that make up our district, Romania and the Republic of Moldova, will thus support a project that will bring to the attention of students the realities of a time that we must never forget. The form in which the events are presented is accessible to today’s generations and offers an alternative to the classic history textbooks. It is also a very useful tool for teachers.”
The previous two editions of the National History Tour included screenings of historical documentaries in Romania’s top schools and universities, museums, national libraries, historical sites, Parliament, Cotroceni Palace and commemorative festivals and anniversaries.
The Historical Education Tour 2023 is sponsored by Banca Transilvania, Groupama, BAT Romania, Nuclearelectrica and History Channel.
