Chuck Norris vs Communism

In 1985, Romanian dictator Nikolai Ceausescu began his twentieth year as leader. There was a ban on travel, there were major food shortages and everyone was afraid of the Securitate, the dreaded secret service. As a form of resistance against this oppressive regime, people started organising evenings where invited guests could watch video tapes smuggled from abroad for a small fee. It was exciting, because watching ‘imperialist films’ was illegal. Even though a VCR was pricey – as expensive as a car – this was an attractive alternative to the propaganda broadcast on state TV. By watching American action films with Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme, among others, a generation of Romanians gawked at the free West with its beautiful houses, full shops and latest fashions.
In Chuck Norris vs Communism, several people look back on that exciting era, including translator Irina Nistor and smuggler Teodor Zamfir.

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