Book Presentation :
“Stalinism for all Season. A political History of Romanian Communism”
April 25th 2006

The Embassy of Romania in Washington DC hosted on April 25th the presentation of the book “Stalinism for all Season. A political History of Romanian Communism”by Prof. Vladimir Tismaneanu. Representatives of the US Administration and Congress, of the diplomatic community in Washington DC and the academic milieu, as well as mass-media attended the event.
In the opening of the event, Ambassador of Romania H.E. Sorin Ducaru welcomed the guests and invited them to see the documentary film “The Great Communist Bank Robbery” by Romanian director Alexandru Solomon. In 1959, a bank robbery at the National Bank in Romania was a peculiar occurrence since the local currency (the lei) could only be spent except inside the country. Six people are arrested, declare their guild and are forced to play themselves in a film which reconstitutes the crime and the investigation. At the end of their trial, broadcasted live, they are sentenced to death and executed. A month later, the film “Reconstitution” was released and became a sensation throughout the country, while the story of the robbery remains clouded in mystery and intrigue for decades. Alexandru Solomon retraces this incredible story filming real people that took part in the “Reconstruction”. The documentary uncovers a story about party politics, anti-Semitism and sheer corruption in the Communist Romania and despite the tragedy of the story it also manages to be very entertaining.
Following the film presentation a lively discussion between Prof. Tismaneanu and guests took place on topics related to the film and the book.