The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism

93 or 52min English, German, French versions available

Synopsis

For many decades, every year, half of Europe was facing the complicated task of selecting a new car, among hundreds of new models arriving in to the market. The other half was free to choose from among 10 to 15 makes and models available to them from their States. Almost as Henry Ford put it about the Model T - Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants, as long as it is black. These products of the Socialist automotive industry were usually out of fashion, slow, clumsy, a pain to drive and repair - but still they were status symbols.
In almost every family there was a much loved, long-awaited polished and groomed Moskvich, Trabi or Dacia. It represented a touch of freedom, opening new horizons to make that long-dreamed trip to East Germany, Bulgaria or Hungary, or at least to the lake or mountains.
The film will be about the cars that are still alive in the memory of Europeans - as a sweet childhood remembrance or as a laughing stock. There will be stories of industrial espionage, design, politics, speed and love.

Festivals/Awards

2021
64 DOK Leipzig
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Estonia
2022
26 Ji.hlava IDFF

The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism

The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism

The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism

The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism

The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism

The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism