Osa Archivum Catalog

Our School

Summary: Can EU money stop segregation of the Roma in school? 4 years in the life of a town in northern Romania: an in-depth look at generational prejudice, squandered opportunities, and good intentions gone awry. "Our School" follows three Roma children from a small Transylvanian town in Romania who are among the first participants in an initiative to integrate the ethnically segregated Romanian schools. In 2006, Alin, Benjamin, and Dana set out from their dead-end segregated school for the city, optimistic for education and new friendships with Romanians. The children’s hopes and innocent optimism quickly soured as they met with low expectations and further isolation. Shot over four years, this tender vérité portrait fosters an intimacy in the children's profound reality and admiration for their indomitable spirit, which is punctuated by shocking instances of prejudice and ignorance. Their story touches on issues ranging from institutionalized racism, public education, and the intractability of poverty, culminating in an outrageous finale that cements the Roma children's struggle in the annals of egregious human rights violations. "Our School" is an absorbing, infuriating, and ultimately bittersweet story of tradition and progress.

Item Type	Current Location	Call Number	Status	Shelving Location	Public Note
DVD-ROM	OSA Film Library	FL Record 2658	Available	-	-
Digital film	OSA Film Library	FL Record 2658 (HU_OSA_00004269.mp4)	Available		Access Copy, MP4 format