Refractara

Facing the death of the industrial society of Romania, a group of brick factory workers struggles to survive. Refractara factory is situated close to Valea Jiului, Romania, where the mining industry used to be thriving. But gradually, industries started to decline after 1990, and the brick factory was caught in this chain. With less and less order requests for bricks, the factory struggles to survive well enough to keep the brick production active. These are the stories of the workers who keep their community alive. But for how long?

  • Facultatea de Teatru și Televiziune, UBB Cluj Napoca
    Producer
  • Ioana Trifu
    Producer
    AI Comrade
  • Ioana Trifu
    Director
  • Maria Cinar-Jiga
    Cinematographers
  • Andreea Știliuc
    Cinematographers
  • Mircea Albuțiu
    Cinematographers
  • Ioana Trifu
    Cinematographers
  • Mircea Albuțiu
    Photographer
  • Rodica Mocan
    Coordinators
  • Dan Curean
    Coordinators
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    short documentary, student film, social
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    Romania
  • Country of Filming:
    Romania
  • Language:
    Romanian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Docuart Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    September 27, 2017
    National premiere
  • Cluj Shorts Film Festival
    Cluj Napoca
    Romania
    April 18, 2018
    Regional premiere
    Official selection
  • CineMAiubit
    Bucharest
    Romania
    December 5, 2018
    Documentary film
Director - Ioana Trifu
Director Statement

I am a recent graduate of the Faculty of Theatre and Television Cluj Napoca, where I attended the Documentary Filmmaking Master’s program. My interest is both in traditional linear structures and in the newer interactive or transmedia formats. I strongly believe in visual storytelling that focuses on individual human stories to speak about greater issues or phenomena.