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Sixty-five people died after fireworks used
during a concert at The Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest ignited
non-fireproofed insulation foam, triggering a stampede.
The film follows journalist Catalin Tolontan, whose
investigations revealed badly burned victims who were taken to
hospital and treated in improper conditions, with inadequate
cleaning products linked to many of their deaths.
Many of the survivors contracted infections in hospital which
are still affecting their recovery.
The fire sparked nationwide protests against corruption and lack
of accountability in Romania, which has one of the European
Union’s least developed healthcare systems.
The Colectiv club owners and local officials were put on trial,
while Tolontan's investigations also led to a more general case
about the use of diluted disinfectants in Romanian hospitals.
Both trials resulted in prison sentences being handed out in
2019 but they were not final and have been appealed.
"For us it was most of all a satisfaction to know that the story
will not be forgotten because the Oscars really bring an
attention to the film that is unprecedented, basically for any
film that gets nominated," Nanau told Reuters.
"Collective" is in the running for best international feature
film and best documentary feature at the Oscars.
Nanau said one grieving father had posted a letter to his
deceased son on social media on the day the nominations were
revealed.
"We couldn't find the ways to help you back then, but at least
we are happy now that this story will not be forgotten and most
of all, that other people can learn from what we went through,"
Nanau said, quoting the letter.
"Hopefully all we want for other people is not to go through the
same things and understand how power works, how manipulation
works."
Nanau said he planned to travel to Los Angeles for the April 25
ceremony.
"We are in constant contact with the production team ... The
whole ceremony will be treated as a film set ... and I think
that should make it safe, it should be fine."
(Reporting by Sophie Royle; Editing by Giles Elgood)
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