Menstruation means the possibility of pregnancy. Most girls and women in the developing world today have access to contraception, and are able to choose the size of their families. In some parts of the world, however, the State has tried to control women’s fertility, and women have been left with little choice other than to have child after child – even if they can’t afford to raise them.
From 1966 to 1989 Romanian leader Nicholae Ceauşescu banned contraception and abortion in an attempt to increase the workforce of Romania. The orphanage population dramatically increased as orphanages became filled with abandoned children. Many of the orphanages had horrendous conditions and were severely understaffed. As a result, huge numbers of children ended up on the streets of Romania.
My favourite documentary, “Children Underground” (2001) tells the heartbreaking stories of five of these Romanian street children – Cristina (16), Macarena (14); Mihai (11); and siblings Ana (10) and Marian (8). Most of these children sniff paint & cut themselves (they often have bandages on their arms). The documentary is 104 minutes long and is divided into 11 parts:
Part One:
Part Two:
Part Three:
Part Four:
Part Five:
Part Six:
Part Seven:
Part Eight:
Part Nine:
Part Ten:
Part Eleven:
“Where are they now?” (The DVD updates on each of the children two years later):
Cristina Ionescu: Aged 19, had moved to a subway station near the Piata Victorei and was now the leader of an older group of children. Her appearance was disheveled and unkempt (unlike it was while filming the documentary) and she rarely changed her clothes. She had become addicted to heroin and she was also three months pregnant (the baby was later given away to a nonprofit organization working with street children). Cristina’s girlfriend was working as a prostitute which was probably a source of income for both of them.
Violeta ‘Macarena’ Rosu: had continued to live in the Piata Victoria subway station. She was still addicted to Aurolac, and was even more incoherent than had been when filming. She continued to keep to herself as a way to protect herself from the violence she experienced when part of a group.
Mihai Alexandre Tudose: Aged 16. A Belgian man who had seen the documentary had made it his mission to rescue Mihai. After six months of searching he found Mihai in Bucharest and brought him back to Belgium. After three productive months of learning French, going to school, and speaking at screenings of Children Underground in Belgium, Mihai returned to Romania to renew his visa. He is now living in Bucharest with a social worker and looking for a job, but may go back to Belgium in the future.
Marian Turturica: Aged 12. He was living at a small, poorly maintained residential home for boys outside of Bucharest. Marian was going to school & learning to use a computer, and he had friends. On ocassion, social workers would take him to visit his mother.
Ana Turturica: Aged 14. The filmaker couldn’t find her in Bucharest after two weeks of searching, but she received an unconfirmed report that Ana was prostituting herself. Later in the year she received a photo of Ana and Marian holding their mother’s newborn twins.
