“Forbidden” is a video diary of the director, related to her gay life in Romania, having a legal action regarding same sex marriage as a starting point. In march 2019, 10 same sex couples decide to take part in the first common legal action regarding same sex marriage in Romania. With the legal support from

“Accept” the oldest NGO fighting for LGBT rights in Romania, the couples go to the Marital Status department in the City Halls from their neighborhoods to register requests for marriage. Since the law interdicts same sex marriage, they expect rejection and humiliating reactions from the authorities, but they want to show that their families lack any kind of protection from the State. The official
rejection letter is the foundation of their legal case, since they want to sue Romania at the European Court of Human Rights.

4 of the couples agree to be filmed in this process. One of them is formed by Anelise, the director of the film. She decides to film everything as a document of what can prove to be a historical moment of change in Romania. But also she understands that now it’s the best time to tell her story as a gay woman, as a complex public coming out, hoping to encourage more gay people to tell their stories.

The film gives a face to gay people, who are not some “freaks”as many imagine. They have jobs, share apartments, act and look like any other. They are just regular citizen, only without some basic rights: a legally recognized family and state protection.

World Premiere: Astra Film Festival (Romania)