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Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: a woman in a sheepskin coat runs along a windswept beach after a distant figure in dark blue, under a low gray sky.

Now streaming

Clouds of Chernobyl

Anul pierdut 1986

In communist Romania after Chernobyl, a pregnant village teacher is pushed toward an illegal abortion by a mother-in-law who fears the radiation.

Where to watchWatch the trailer

Written and directed by Ligia Ciornei

Starring Isabela Neamțu and Gavril Pătru

Format
Feature film
Genre
Historical drama, thriller
Running time
76 min
Country
Romania
Language
Romanian
Status
Now streaming
Year
2022

Synopsis

Romania, 1986. Fear of radiation from Chernobyl spreads through the villages, and with quiet pressure from the party, pregnant women are pushed into improvised abortions that the communist state forbids.

Irina, a teacher married to a ship’s captain and already a mother of two, is pregnant again. Her mother-in-law has set up an illegal abortion. The procedure is a crime, and whichever way Irina decides, someone in the family risks prison. Years later, after the regime falls, her children judge her harshly for it.

The story draws on what happened that year to women in Bukovina, Iași, Vrancea, and Tulcea. Ligia Ciornei wrote the script after meeting women who lived through that time, and directed it as her feature debut. Isabela Neamțu plays Irina.

HBO in 10 countries
HBO acquired the film for 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Romania, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, with a one-year exclusive window.
The shoot
About 70 percent of the film was shot in six days on a low budget. One sequence plays for 20 minutes without a cut.
Advice on the edit
Cristian Mungiu watched an edited draft and pressed Ciornei for a real ending; he is thanked in the credits. Dana Bunescu also advised on the edit.
Noetic Ark credit
IMDb credits Noetic Ark as a producer and as a distributor in Romania. Pala Film released the film in Romanian theaters.

Where to watch

Distributed in the US by MVD Entertainment Group.

HBO Max (Romania)Fandango at Home (US)

Availability depends on the country and changes over time. Checked November 3, 2026.

Festivals and press

World PremiereTransilvania IFF 2022WinnerBest International Feature Film
Middlebury 2022WinnerBest Production Design
UCIN Awards 2023WinnerFilm of the Fest
FFTG Awards 2023

“A parable of female spiritual strength and resistance in dark times of oppression.”

Mariana Hristova, Cineuropa Read the review

“I tried to portray the way in which Romanian society was functioning in 1986.”

Ligia Ciornei, Cineuropa Read the interview

Credits

produced by Pala Film in co-production with Chainsaw Europe, Adenium Film, Doctor’s Studio starring Isabela Neamțu, Gavril Pătru, Victoria Cociaș, Valer Dellakeza sound design Alin Zăbrăuțeanu edited by Alice Furdui, Dana Bunescu production design Cristina Milea director of photography Dan Dimitriu co-producers Viorel Chesaru, Cristina Badea producers Ligia Ciornei, Dan Dimitriu, Mario Marian written and directed by Ligia Ciornei

Stills

Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: two women grapple on a beach below a crumbling cliff, the sea gray behind them.
Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: an older woman holds a weeping younger woman in her arms, icons on the wall behind them.
Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: a woman in a shearling coat stands in an industrial yard before grain silos and a steel gantry, a white car passing behind her.
Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: on a village porch an older woman in a blue housecoat holds back a young woman in a white slip, while a man in a white naval uniform walks up the lane with two suitcases.
Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: in a village room with a tiled stove, an older woman in a blue dress stands while a younger woman sits on a bench and looks at her.
Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: a woman in a blue beret bows her head at a green wooden fence; someone stands on the other side of the boards.
Still from Clouds of Chernobyl: a young woman in a lace slip sobs as an older woman in a blue housecoat faces her, icons on the wall behind them.

Inquiries

For press materials and other questions about Clouds of Chernobyl, contact Noetic Ark.

Contact us

More about the film: Cineuropa

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