ION

How a Romanian miner made political caricatures at a time when making fun of the country's leadership could mean a visit from the secret police. 

After finishing university in 1978, Ion Barbu was assigned to the Petrila mine as a topographer. He only intended to be there briefly, but despite attempting other jobs such as local reporter and museum curator, he ended up staying at the mine for the next 15 years...

How did Ion balance being both a miner and a political caricaturist? What happened when the secret police arrested him for mocking the Romanian president? How does he recall the sudden and violent fall of the Ceaușescu regime? Find out in this episode of The Final Curtain.

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Time stamps

[02:04] How Ion became a miner...
[05:04] ... and a caricaturist
[09:50] The Securitate, the dreaded secret police of communist Romania
[12:34] How did the political changes look from inside the Petrila mine? 
[16:47] Ion explains why 'We should say goodbye to the past laughing' 
[18:42] Credits

Further reading & watching

• 'Islands of culture' shape the future of the Jiu Valley, Romania // on Just-Transition.info

• Beneath the Surface: The Occult Inspirations of Poland’s Legendary Naive Artist Coal Miners // on Culture.pl

• Author Małgorzata Rejmer on Romania & Albania // interview on Culture.pl

• Planet Petrila: Documentary Feature Trailer // on Youtube

Credits

Written & produced by Monika Proba
Clara Kleininger was our associate producer for this story
Edited by Adam Zulawski & Wojciech Oleksiak
Scoring & sound design by Wojciech Oleksiak
Hosted by Nitzan Reisner & Adam Zulawski
The last song was performed by Fanfara Minerilor din Cavnic