Private Project

BETWEEN PAIN AND AMEN

A young composer and double bass virtuoso, who returns to Romania after studying in Vienna, is arrested by the political police soon after getting engaged and taken to the Pitesti prison, where a brainwashing and torture-based experiment is under way. The horrible communist experiment, copied after the Soviet model, is headed by the much-feared Ciumau. The composer survives unimaginable torture due to his strong religious belief and composes Ode to God. His music will eventually save his fiancee, Lia.

The film is independent and inspired by true events.

  • Toma Enache
    Director
    I'M NOT FAMOUS BUT I'M AROMANIAN
  • Elena Enache
    Writer
    La Cazino, in vreme de razboi
  • Toma Enache
    Writer
    I'M NOT FAMOUS BUT I'M AROMANIAN
  • Eugen Cojocariu
    Writer
  • Toma Enache
    Producer
    I'M NOT FAMOUS BUT I'M AROMANIAN
  • Vali V. Popescu
    Key Cast
    "Tase"
  • Constantin Cotimanis
    Key Cast
    "Ciumau"
  • Kira Hagi
    Key Cast
    "Tana"
  • Ana Parvu
    Key Cast
    "Lia"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    INTRE CHIN SI AMIN
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, History
  • Runtime:
    2 hours 5 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 31, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    Romania
  • Country of Filming:
    Romania
  • Language:
    Romanian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • INDIE IPRODUCERS FILM FESTIVAL
    BUCHAREST
    Romania
    November 15, 2019
    ROMANIAN PREMIERE
    TROPHY
  • Accolade Competition 2020

    United States
    Won, Award of Excellence Special Mention - Feature Film, Award of Excellence - Direction
  • European Cinematography Awards (ECA) 2020
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    Award Best Director, November
  • Montreal Independent Film Festival 2020
    Montreal
    Canada
    International Narrative Feature Best Direction
  • New York Movie Awards 2020
    New York
    United States
    Best Feature Film - Honorable Mention
  • North Europe International Film Festival 2020 (LONDON)
    London
    United Kingdom
    Jury Prize Best Director of a Foreign Language Feature Film Toma Enache Nominated, Fusion Award Best Make-up Florina Marcuta Nominated, Fusion Award Best Production Design Foreign Film Diana Samuila,Medeea Enciu Won, Fusion Award Best Supporting Actor in a Foreign Language Film Constantin Cotimanis Nominated, Jury Prize Best Original Screenplay of a Foreign Language Feature Film Toma Enache, Eugen Cojocariu, Elena Enache
  • Vienna Film Awards 2020
    Vienna
    Austria
    Jury Prize Best Drama
  • Atlanta Award Qualifying Film Festival 2020
    Atlanta
    United States
    Winner , Best Political Film
  • South Europe International Film Festival 2020 (VALENCIA)
    Valencia
    Spain
    Nominated, Festival Award Best Foreign Language Feature Film Toma Enache Nominated, Fusion Award Best Original Screenplay of a Feature Film Toma Enache, Eugen Cojocariu, Elena Enache Nominated, Festival Award Best Director of A Foreign Language Feature Film Toma Enache Nominated, Festival Award Best Costume Design Diana Samuila Nominated, Festival Award Best Hair, Make-up, and Body Design Florina Marcuta (makeup artist)
  • The IndieFest Film Awards 2020
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Winner, Award of Excellence Special Mention Feature Film Toma Enache
  • Amsterdam World International Film Fest 2020
    Amsterdam
  • Amsterdam World International Film Fest 2020
    Amsterdam
    Winner, Best Feature Film
  • Around International Film Festival, BARCELONA
    Barcelona
    Spain
    Winner, Best Director
  • Florence Film Awards 2019
    FLORENCE
    Italy
    WINNER, Best Director Feature Film, Winner Honorable Mention Make-up
  • UCIN Awards ROMANIA
    BUCHAREST
    Romania
    WINNER, Diploma of Excellence , Nominations: Special Jury Award Best Screenplay Best Lead Actor Best Editing Best Makeup
  • Gold Movie Awards 2019
    London
    United Kingdom
    Nominated, Best of the Year Award Best Foreign Language Feature film
  • European Screen Awards 2019

    Indonesia
    WINNER PLATINUM AWARD, EMERGING EUROPEAN DIRECTOR
  • Balkan Film&Food Festival
    POGRADEC
    Albania
    WINNER, Jury Prize Human Rights Award
  • Five Continents International Film Festival 2020

    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    Won, Best Make Up Feature Film Won, Best Cinematography Feature Film Won, Special Mention Director Feature Film Won, Special Mention Costume Design Feature Film Won, Special Mention Sound Design Feature Film Won, Best Supporting Actor Feature Film Constantin Cotimanis Won, Special Mention Lead Actor Feature Film Vali Popescu Won, Best Feature Film Best History Feature Film Won, Special Mention Art Direction Feature Won, Best Screenplay Feature Film Toma Enache, Eugen Cojocariu, Elena Enache Won, Jury Prize Special Mention Lead Actress Feature Film Ana Parvu Won, Best Feature Film Best Production Feature Film Elena Enache 2020
  • Kosice International Monthly Film Festival 2020
    KOSICE
    Best Director Feature Film Toma Enache
  • Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival 2020
    LONDON
    Best Feature Film Toma Enache La Steaua Film Studio Outstanding Achievement in Makeup/Hairstyling & SFX Florina Marcuta La Steaua Film Studio Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design Diana Samuila La Steaua Film StudioNominee Festival Award Best Film of the Competition Toma Enache La Steaua Film Studio Best Drama Toma Enache La Steaua Film Studio Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Alexander Sachs La Steaua Film Studio Outstanding Achievement in Production Design Medeea Enciu Diana Samuila La Steaua Film Studio
  • Open World Toronto Film Festival 2010
    TORONTO
    Canada
    Nominee Jury Prize Best Director
  • VIFF Vienna Independent Film Festival 2020
    VIENNA
    Austria
    Winner Golden Statuette Best Feature Film Toma Enache (director) La Steaua Film Studio (Production company) Best Film Score Adrian Flautistu (composer) Gore Eduard (composer)
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athena
    Greece
    WInner , Honorable Mention Best feature Film
Distribution Information
  • LA STEAUA FILM STUDIO
    Country: Romania
    Rights: All Rights
  • Global Genesis Group, USA
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights, Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Airline, Theatrical, Paid TV
Director Biography - Toma Enache

BETWEEN PAIN AND AMEN/ ÎNTRE CHIN ȘI AMIN is his second feature film, an independent film released in 2019. It has 45 wins in international festivals and may be Romania's submission to the Academy Awards.


“I’m Not Famous but I’m Aromanian” the first feature film in Aromanian, released in 2013 , independent film

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

”BETWEEN PAIN AND AMEN/ ÎNTRE CHIN ȘI AMIN” brings before the audience a heart-breaking story that took place in a Romanian prison during the communist regime, the venue for a horrible experiment of the re-education through torture.

The film is independent and inspired by true events that had a very strong impact on me when I learned about them, whether they happened in the Sighet Prison, the Pitesti Prison or somewhere else in the country. I had the privilege to speak directly to some of the few survivors of the the horrible experiment, which helped me better understand how things had happened.

The biographies of the main characters include terrible experiences, lived by thousands of political prisoners during the communist dictatorship, but also the essence of some unique and extremely strong people, of outstanding moral character.

My intention is to show that there is another world beyond this concrete world, an over-sensitive world with transcendental values (love, God, kindness), that there is a value superior to life, whose effect is precisely the triumph of the latter, when everything seems lost.

I believe it is time for the brutal reality of the Pitesti Phenomenon, a taboo subject in Romania for tens of years, which caused unimaginable suffering to an impressive number of people, to be finally be spoken out loud, in a film.”