The Bridge Director: Ileana Stanculescu Running Time: 75 minutes Romania 2004 Post Screening Discussion With Director       Why does the European Union finance the reconstruction of a bridge that nobody is allowed to cross? The old bridge between Sighet, a Romanian town, and Slatina, a Ukranian town, had been destroyed by the German troops during the Second World War. After the war, the northern bank of the Tisza River became part of the Soviet Union, while the southern bank continued to be Romanian, and the border was closed. The Tisza River separated the two towns for almost fifty years. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Slatina became a Ukranian town and the border was reopened. The old bridge has now undergone a three year renovation thanks to European Union funds. But Why? As yet, nobody is allowed to cross it. The second round of admittance of new members to the E.U. will include Romania but exclude Ukraine. So, family and friends can only communicate by shouting across the river. This opening scene of the film graphically demonstrates the absurdity of political reasoning.       Screening: 27 October at 4.30 p.m. Old Fire Station