Filmed across Italy, Moldova, and Romania, Tata is a raw portrait of a family locked in a relentless struggle against toxic masculinity and the tale of a daughter’s poignant quest to break the cycle for herself, the next generation, and even for the one who hurt her.
About the Movie & the Screenings
"TATA", the documentary film written and directed by Lina Vdovîi and Radu Ciorniciuc, a production about the generational trauma and exploitation of migrant workers, will have its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival 2024 (TIFF, 49th edition), with the support of the Romanian Cultural institute in New York. The documentary, produced by Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan, continues the successful collaboration of the three filmmakers, who also worked together on the acclaimed documentary "ACASA, MY HOME", directed by Radu Ciorniciuc and winner of over 40 national and international awards.
TATA | WORLD PREMIERE
@ TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, September 5-15, 2024
Romania, Germany, Netherlands | 2024 | 82m | Romanian
Directors: Lina Vdovîi, Radu Ciorniciuc
Producer: Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan
Executive Producer: Elena Martin
OFFICIAL SCREENIGS | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Saturday, September 7 @ 5:10 PM
Sunday, September 8 @ 7:35 PM
Tuesday, September 10 @ 03:05 PM
Friday, September 13 @ 11:10 PM
Lina and her father have been estranged for many years. Like countless others, he left their impoverished homeland of Moldova in the 1990s for work abroad. Decades later, she is a journalist and settled with a good partner and a fine life in Romania. When Lina receives a video message from her father, showing bruises on his arms, she is conflicted about her feelings towards a man who is all but a stranger to her.
Travelling to Italy and equipping him with a hidden camera so that he may pursue justice, Lina — pregnant and with a pressing urge to confront the most painful parts of her past so as not to repeat them — finds herself on a parallel journey, uncovering a pattern of domestic violence that has plagued her family for generations. In understanding what was tolerated for survival and challenging what was accepted as normal when it comes to violence, Tata (meaning father in many languages including Romanian, which is the official language of Moldova) is an urgent and beautiful push to rewrite the narratives and traumas we inherit and — for our own good — must work to heal and release.
Co-directed by Lina Vdovîi and Radu Ciorniciuc, who are partners and parents in real life, and filmed across Italy, Moldova, and Romania, Tata is a raw portrait of a family locked in a relentless struggle against toxic masculinity and the tale of a daughter's poignant quest to break the cycle for herself, the next generation, and even for the one who hurt her.
Meet the Directors
LINA VDOVÎI is a writer, journalist, and producer from the Republic of Moldova who’s now based in Romania. She’s reported for outlets including "EUObserver" and "The Guardian", and was the screenwriter for Radu Ciorniciuc’s documentary "ACASA, MY HOME". "TATA" is her feature directorial debut.
RADU CIORNICIUC is a Romanian
filmmaker, cinematographer, and investigative journalist. He co-founded the independent media organizationCasa Jurnalistuluiand has reported for outlets including "The Guardian" and "Al Jazeera". He made his directorial debut with the documentary feature "ACASA, MY HOME". "TATA" is his latest film.
Meet the Producers
MONICA LĂZUREAN-GORGAN is an experienced producer and a member of the AMPAS/Oscar and EFA. Monica is the producer of the film "BETWEEN REVOLUTIONS" (2023) by Vlad Petri, winner of the FIPRESCI award in Berlinale 2023, feature length documentary "ACASA, MY HOME" (2020) by Radu Ciorniciuc, winner of the Sundance Cinematography Award and other 40 international awards, delegate producer for "TOUCH ME NOT" (2018) by Adina Pintilie, winner of Golden Bear and co-producer for Sundance movie" CHUCK NORRIS VS COMMUNISM" (2015) by Ilinca Calugareanu. Monica is the director of feature-length documentaries such as "A MERE BREATH" (2016), winner of Best Doc in Sarajevo IFF, Best Doc in CEE Vienna IFF and co-director of "WOOD", which premiered in HotDocs and CPH:Dox 2020.
ELENA MARTIN holds a BA in screenwriting and an MA in film production from UNATC, Bucharest. Since 2019, she has been working at Manifest Film; in 2021, she co-founded Filmways, a film production company dedicated to promoting emerging filmmakers in both fiction and documentary filmmaking. She is an alumna of CineLink Producers Lab, East-West Talent Lab, and Ex Oriente Film and Series. She has been involved in projects such as "ACASA, MY HOME" (dir. Radu Ciorniciuc), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; "TIMEBOX" (dir. Nora Agapi), acquired by HBO; and "BETWEEN REVOLUTIONS" (dir. Vlad Petri), which premiered at the Berlinale Forum 2023. Elena develops and produces feature films, series, and short films in both documentary and fiction genres, collaborating with both established and emerging directors.
About the Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival returns September 5 – 15, 2024 for its 49th edition — 11 days of Canadian and international cinema; special events and talks with some of the biggest names in film; and TIFF's Industry Conference: a place to connect with film professionals and explore the art and business of cinema. Full program and details HERE.
Press
FINANCIAL TIMES
Sept. 12, 2024: “Hugh Grant turns sadistic Heretic and Lily James is hacked at Toronto film festival - Plus: Paul Rudd in suburban humiliation comedy ‘Friendship’ and documentary ‘Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story’” by Nicolas Rapold
"But two portraits galvanised on a different level: first, Sinead O’Shea’s Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story showcases the recently deceased Irish novelist in ferocious TV clips, journal readings (by Jessie Buckley) and a very late interview, all stunning for their unflinching candour. Demonstrating a kindred clear-eyed intelligence, Tata is a sinewy vérité film about love and survival among generations of women in co-director Lina Vdovîi’s Moldovan family. It was another title that showed that, for all the stars at the festival, the Toronto red carpet productively extends to the well-known and unheralded alike."
"Two portraits galvanised [at TIFF] on a different level… Demonstrating a kindred clear-eyed intelligence, Tata is a sinewy vérité film about love and survival among generations of women in co-director Lina Vdovîi’s Moldovan family. It was another title that showed that, for all the stars at the festival, the Toronto red carpet productively extends to the well-known and unheralded alike." (Nicolas Rapold, Financial Times)
“Powerful and fresh… A deeply intimate story." (Christopher Reed, HAMMER TO NAIL)
“A fascinating portrait of the generational traumas… A gripping work on multiple levels, the film is both an engaging exposé on the ways immigrants are exploited for cheap labour and a harrowing exploration into a culture where toxic masculinity is deeply rooted in the soil… Vdovîi presents a richly layered work that ponders the legacy of violence and the things that are often inherited without question… A compelling and powerful work, Tata shows why you sometimes need to sever the ties that bind.“ (Courtney Small, POV Magazine)
Film Fest Report (Review)
"Through this intimate and poignant story, Lina Vdovîi and Radu Ciorniciuc delve into the complexities of family relationships and the transmission of harmful and destructive behaviors across generations." (Aurelie Geron, FILM FEST REPORT)
“Personal and powerful.” (Drew Gregory)
“A super-dense, multilayered and unembellished, intimate portrait of transgenerational trauma.” (Vladan Petkovic, CINEUROPA)
MODERN TIMES REVIEW
"An intimate story of family trauma and exploitation, tackling patriarchal structures and the complex life of migrant labourers." (Steve Rickinson, MODERN TIMES REVIEW
“A stunning reexamination of the past to make room for a better future... Lina’s acute awareness and insightfulness push the narrative of ‘Tata,' which means ‘father' in Romanian, towards surprising revelations… What makes the documentary so impactful is how it multiplies in layers… ‘Tata' also works wonders as an exposé. It maintains an investigative, incredibly perceptive spirit that keeps urgent subjects in focus throughout… As ‘Tata' so devastatingly and confidently conveys, there are worlds within worlds that exist in a family. Perhaps this is where one can make the most profound change of all." (Nadia Dalimonte, NEXT BEST PICTURE)
“'Tata' may be just one family’s story, but in generously sharing it, Vdovîi shows its power when it would seem to open the floodgates to a lot more." (Stephen Saito, THE MOVEABLE FEST)
