Screening of the film “Arseny. Viața de Apoi” was canceled by the Municipal Cultural Center of Arad and the District Library, citing that they had received “negative messages with threats”, director Alexandru Solomon said on Facebook.

The film, according to the director, was to be screened on Wednesday night at Cinema Arta in Arad at an event organized by the Citizens’ Association.

“48 hours ago, the Arad Municipal Cultural Center informed the association that the projection could not take place because negative messages with threats had been received. Then the organizers managed to move the show to the district library. The Library also canceled the screening at 9pm last night. An hour ago, I spoke with the director of the Center, trying to understand how a government institution can cancel an event that was agreed upon a long time ago, based on verbal threats. Restrict public access in Arad to the film without even watching it. Why didn’t they ask for the protection of the gendarmerie, if the event, which takes place in a hall subordinated to the city hall, is under threat. (I am quoting here the message I heard: “If you dare to show the film, we will come there, there will be a circus, we will make a scandal”.) Why does a state institution give in and violate the right to freedom of speech? The director told me that I couldn’t force the people of Arad to watch the film (who forces them?!). Arad is the only city in Romania to cancel the screening of the film, at least so far. Censorship? election calculations? opportunism? lack of commitment?”, the director wrote on Facebook.

The Citizenit association announced on Facebook about the screening of the Arsenii documentary. Afterlife will take place on Wednesday evening at Terasa Flex, in Arad, from 20:30, in the presence of director Alexandru Solomon.

Director Alexandru Solomon explained in an interview with HotNews.ro what he wanted to cover in “Arsen. The Afterlife,” his documentary about the fascination that Romania’s most famous cleric, Arseni Boc, still inspires in Romanians.

• VIDEO “Arseny. Afterlife”: What does director Aleksandra Solomon want to show us with this pilgrimage documentary film about the cult of Arseniy Bok?