Documentary – Moldova: A Small Country with a Big Heart

The Embassy of France, the Embassy of Moldova and the Maison Française are proud to offer a free screening of the Moldovan movie “A Small Country with a Big Heart” on Monday, March 6 starting at  7:00 pm at La Maison Française located at 4101 Reservoir Road, NW, in Washington, DC. The screening will be introduced by the Embassy of Moldova in the United States and followed by a discussion with the Ambassador of Moldova, H.E. Viorel Ursu.

The film, directed by Daniela Donici and Lucia Lupu, is produced by the National Inbound and Domestic Tourism Association of Moldova (ANTRIM) and Moldova Travel with the support of the EDGE Buy-in Moldova Competitiveness Transition Activity funded by USAID.

Overnight, one of the least known countries in Europe becomes home for tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as never before in its modern history. The documentary film “A Small Country with a Big Heart” shares a touching story of Moldovan hospitality and spirit. It was filmed in the spring of 2022 as Ukrainian families fled their houses when bombs began to fall on their land and crossed the border into Moldova in search of safety and refuge. Moldovans immediately opened their doors and hearts in a synchronized way without anybody needing to say anything. They just did.

The film gets its name from how the international press and United Nations began to refer to Moldova and how it welcomed over 450,000 Ukrainian refugees into their homes and hearts, despite the country’s small size and limited resources. Moldovans then adopted this phrase as their own to describe their country’s hospitality during a time of humanitarian crisis. This documentary is about the hosts of the rural guest houses in Moldova who provided safe refuge and a welcoming smile to their Ukrainian neighbors in need, known in Moldova as “honored guests.” These are the real life characters: Sergiu (Hanul lui Hanganu guest house), Liuba (Vila Roz guest house), Dan, Zaharia and Tatiana (Casa Veche guest house), Ana (Gagauz Sofrasi guest house), Olesea and Anatol (Eco Resort Butuceni guest house). These eight people from five guest houses in different regions of Moldova tell their experience and the unbelievable stories of the Ukrainian refugees they took into their communities. Beyond these stories, the documentary takes you all across Moldova to some of the undiscovered places in one of least known countries in Europe. What you will see may surprise you.

Tickets are available on line at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-francophone-moldovan-movie-a-small-country-with-a-big-heart-tickets-554655428317. In Romanian and Russian with English subtitles.

Security Notice : Each person attending the event must have a ticket registered in their name and a government-issued ID that matches the name on the reservation in order to enter the Embassy. No need to print your ticket, but no one will be admitted without reservation and proper ID. Due to strict security measures, please arrive on time, doors will be closed at 7 pm sharp. Please allow extra time for security screening.