November 30 - December 10, 2000
An Exhibition of International Cinema

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France/USA, 1999, Video, 58 minutes
French and Romanian with English subtitles
Director: Pola Rapaport

A photo of a young child in her father's desk. A mysterious letter received from Romania. Beginning with these scant clues, Family Secret reveals how American filmmaker Pola Rapaport discovered a half brother whose existence was kept a secret by their father, who died over twenty-five years ago. Mixing black and white images, archival footage and video, the filmmaker pieces together the account of her father's past and that of her 54-year-old half brother, Pierre Randulescu-Bau. As the film unfolds, the viewer is invited to Pola's first meeting with Pierre in Bucharest, Pierre's arrival in America and their discovery of their grandparents' grave in Romania. In France, Pola and Pierre revisit the places where their parents lived, and search for long lost friends to fill in the family history in Paris during the 1940's and 50's. A moving film, Family Secret shows how some family bonds persevere even when divided by time, war and displacement.

Welcoming Remarks
Mirela Maglia, Acting Cultural Attache, Embassy of Romania

Special Guest
Pola Rapaport, Director

In cooperation with the Embassy of Romania, the Embassy of France, and the Alliance Française de Washington DC

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