FIRST, DO NO HARM

First, Do No Harm explores the transformation of Transylvania’s Saxon villages through the encounters between the residents who have stayed and newcomers from cities in search of a different way of life.

A group of newcomers recount how they left the cities and settled in Alma Vii, Richiș, or Biertan. For some, the move means reconnecting with nature and embracing a slower pace of life; for others, it is about rediscovering family roots, the possibility of working remotely, or the desire to contribute to the restoration of architectural heritage.

The perspectives of long-time residents, however, complicate this idyllic image of village life. Mrs Ganea recalls the once-bustling streets, cows returning home in the evening, and neighbours chatting at their gates. Mihai and Mr Nițu speak about the disappearance of traditional forms of mutual support, economic inequalities, and the divide between local residents and those who buy and restore Saxon houses.

What newcomers see as authenticity and heritage may represent, for those who have lived there all their lives, a difficult world they are trying to leave behind. Between preservation and transformation, isolation and belonging, the film asks whether people who share the same place can come together to build a shared world, and what is truly being preserved when the architectural heritage survives but the community that created it disappears.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with Andrei Dudea and Bogdan Iancu.

Andrei Dudea

Andrei Dudea is a documentary filmmaker and director whose practice lies at the intersection of documentary cinema, visual anthropology, and photography. His work explores the relationships between people, communities, and the spaces they inhabit, addressing themes such as individual and collective memory, migration, belonging, loneliness, and the social and cultural transformations of the contemporary world.

His filmmaking approach often begins with field research, observation, and encounters with people whose personal experiences reflect broader social phenomena.

His projects and collaborations include In Search of Lost Paradise, a documentary exploration of urban-to-rural migration; Atlas of Loneliness, a visual investigation into loneliness and intergenerational relationships; and First, Do No Harm, a documentary about heritage, housing, and the transformation of rural communities in Transylvania.

He has also worked as a cinematographer and co-producer on the documentaries Imaginary Youth / Vis. Viață and Bucharest Under Siege (Bucureștiul sufocat), and has directed and produced documentaries for ARTE TV.