The Goldstein Files

A bomb goes off in the Romanian Senate on Dec 8, 1920. The main perpetrator is Max Goldstein, a 22 y.o. Jewish anarchist worker who had previously attempted similar acts and lost his right arm in an explosion. He claims to have committed the attack to avenge the crimes committed by the state and the bourgeoisie against workers. THE GOLDSTEIN FILES critically reconstructs this story, blending rotoscope animation, archival images, and behind-the-scenes sequences that capture the cast and crew during improvisation and debates based on the historical material. The narrative alternates between the events leading up to and following the bombing, tracing Max Goldstein's journey and transformation from a poor, timid child to a rebellious teenager, a dedicated left-wing militant, and finally, a cold-blooded killer. The film explores the tension between Goldstein's noble ideals and the violent means he employs, set against the backdrop of a harsh and unjust society divided by social conflicts.

Director’s statement
THE GOLDSTEIN FILES is a cinematic response to a world where crises deepen divisions instead of sparking transformation. In today’s climate of rising far-right extremism, deepening inequalities, and state-sanctioned violence, Goldstein’s story is disturbingly relevant. By revisiting his actions, the film provokes urgent questions, to hopefully understand our world better, by looking at the past, with historical and emotional distance. What kind of world breeds such gestures? What drives individuals to see violence as the only option? The film doesn’t offer answers but invites to reflection. Goldstein’s act, once widely debated, has resurfaced in Romanian public discourse, with growing interest. The tensions of his time—economic and cultural polarization, political instability, and rising extremism—are resurfacing today. For better or worse, it’s time to talk about Max again.