The New Year That Never Came

Romania, December 20, 1989: a country on the brink of revolution. Large-scale demonstrations are taking place outside, but news coverage is scarce. At the same time, President Ceaușescu is glorified in New Year’s TV shows. While he ushers in the Christmas festivities, families inside struggle with their personal conflicts, closely monitored by the ever-present secret police. On this tumultuous day, six lives intersect. Unaware of what awaits them, an explosive event brings them together—one that will forever shape the future. The New Year that Never Came is a sharp tragicomedy that shows how little was needed at the time to bring down Ceaușescu's communist regime. With humor and stylistic imagery, director Bogdan Mureșanu portrays a pivotal moment in Romanian history through the eyes of six ordinary people. The New Year that Never Came was one of the major award winners at the Venice Film Festival and became the biggest box-office hit of 2024 in its home country.