The end of the 80s. 1988 or 1989. Friday evening. Romanian television, which at that time had not two, but three hours of broadcasting (and this, of course, thanks to the wise policy of the PKR and, above all, the most beloved son of the people, who knew how and when to save energy) broadcast a film produced by one of the sister cinemas .

I clearly remember that the film was not aiming for an optimistic ending anyway. The projection was unexpectedly interrupted, and a cardboard was projected onto the small screen, informing us that there had been a “technical failure”. Breakdowns didn’t happen very often, but they did happen, but they didn’t take more than a reasonable number of minutes to fix. This time it was a little different. About six or seven minutes passed, when the next announcer finally appeared (it was Christiana Botha), who apologized with her perfect professional smile and announced that the broadcast would be resumed immediately, calmly. Said and done. The film lasted, but not more than two or three minutes. Then again the card with a “technical failure”, and quite a long wait and the appearance of Christina Botha again. Only the announcer’s smile this time was clearly embarrassed, and the announcement was unprecedented. The movie can no longer be broadcast. Of course, for technical reasons.

A few days later, rumours, then and now at great cost, told us that TVR’s big management had received a phone call from somewhere up there saying that one of the senior decision-makers (perhaps even an official cabinet 2?), an end that foreshadowed even less. Therefore, it was ordered to stop broadcasting. The order was completed without any comments. This was the case when Romania was being built multilaterally developed socialist society, and along party lines it was fashionable democratic centralism.

The other day I remembered the above story, prompted by miracles, mysteries, theatrics and, above all, shameful explanations of the Minister of Culture, Mr. Lucian N. Romashkanu regarding the unfortunate failure of the competition for the post of general director (please manager) of the National Theater in Bucharest.

The first failure in the film, presented under the own direction of the main cultural figure of Romania, occurred in the first days of August. When the press release of the “responsible forums” announced that the interview, which was supposed to take place on August 3 and 4, was postponed for one day. And this is because the six members of the examination committee still need a short break to read, study the projects and form a clear opinion.

However, on August 5, Mr. Minister Romashkanu communicated on his account facebook (this transparency, this model of concern for prompt informing of public opinion!) that one of the jury members, being shocked by the not entirely satisfactory quality of the works submitted by the candidates, a quality which is considered incompatible with what is required of the head of the “first stage of the country” (according to sources revealed that there were 5 of them, later it became clear who they were) decided to retire. The immediate consequence of his decision, otherwise it works perfectly legally, is the termination of the competition. The five who are found to be ineligible will be able to appear for the re-examination, and other applicants can join them. When will it be so and when the Ministry organizes a new competition.

That’s how the first question marks appeared. You can’t help but wonder if something is rotten in Denmark and if malfunction for the exacting examiner, bad luck intervened at a key moment, it was not skepticism (if not provoked), considering that the list of those who were so inelegantly invited to re-examination there were the rector of UNATC, whose managerial qualities speak only good things, the director of the national theater in the country, found and confirmed in a position with by no means marginal qualifications and not from yesterday, from today, but from 2005. (soon she will match in longevity with the famous Mrs. Deleanue!), the manager of one of the best private theaters and who managed not to close her doors even during a severe pandemic. Like the current interim CEO of TNB, even if he is denied by some, is too easily presented as a kind of good boy, but with flaws, but who, nevertheless, with flaws, even with errors of strategy, taste, direction, he brought to the public at least two good, large-scale shows. Plus, the former general director of the Bucharest performance institution, which filmed, what not, productions with UNITER nominations and awards.

None of them even deserved the chance to testify, wasn’t it natural for the trial to go to the end with all 6 jurors making the final decision? Wasn’t it the norm that the other five examiners should also be consulted and not be given the impression that they were unwittingly taking part in the prank? From what Kristina Modryanu, a member of the examination commission, told TVR, there is a sense of disappointment among the jury members as well.

The second failure of the film, made with public funds, and seriously undermined the reputation of the five candidates, happened a few days later. When in the TV show mentioned above, the critic Kristina Modryanu revealed a detail that had been carefully hidden by Mr. Romanian The juror who was present also supported his decision by – guess what? – he suddenly remembered that he was in a state of incompatibility. This is after he testified in writing and with his own signature that everything would have been completely different. He swore that he had no contractual relationship with TNB, that he had no conflict of interest. Here, however, this person overcame his own amnesia and admitted that it would be a little different on the night before the evil fair. So the end of the competition, as in the unfinished film broadcast by TVR 33-34 years ago, is suspended.

Amiable, benevolent, imitating a desire to find out the will of the masses, trying to please everyone, irritated by being taken for granted, angry that some people know something that his lordship did not really want to know, proving that he is not sure in the meaning of some Romanian words (the Minister of Culture ignores what kind of pennant it is, and facebook proved that he was not familiar with the correct use of the verb serve but, as Mrs. Andronescu said, seeking to save the illustrious Pope-Genunc, he is not a Romanian language teacher!), but reminding us that he has 27 years of managerial experience in culture (how many of those at the helm of popular magazines, Mr. Romashkanu?), Mr. Minister Romashkanu assured us that there will be a new competition. But as the days have not entered the bag, and his lordship seems to adhere to the saying A slow feast it won’t end until after the New Year and Christmas holidays. Then he hopes the manager we all want will be named.

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Romașcanu through all of us. Not only us and ours? Isn’t that the whole point PSD people and his best sons? Wasn’t Mr. Romashkanu behaving as if he were someone Office 2? The suspicion that Mr. Minister will have a favorite is justified, because the high-ranking cultural figure hastened to bury the dead body of the failed competition and did everything possible to minimize the effect of the death. You better believe that Mr. Romashkanu was a little glad that this contest ended in boxing. And the funeral expenses were almost zero.

Read the whole article and comment on Contributors.ro