Romania, December 20, 1989: a country on the brink of revolution. Massive demonstrations are taking place outside, but news of them is scarce. Meanwhile, President Ceaușescu is glorified in televised New Year’s shows. As he ushers in the holiday festivities, families struggle with their personal conflicts indoors, all under the watchful eye of the omnipresent secret police. On this turbulent day, six lives intersect. Unaware of what lies ahead, they are brought together by an explosive event—one that will forever shape their future.

The New Year that Never Came is a sharp tragicomedy that reveals how little it took to topple Ceaușescu’s communist regime. With humor and striking visuals, director Bogdan Mureșanu portrays a pivotal moment in Romanian history through the eyes of six ordinary people. It was one of the major award winners at the Venice Film Festival and became the highest-grossing box office hit of 2024 in its home country.