Captured in real time, director Alexander Nanau follows sports journalist Cătălin Tolontan and a newly-minted Minister of Health Vlad Voiculescu down the rabbit hole into the heart of corruption at Romanian healthcare system in this disturbingly hard-hitting nominee for both Documentary Feature and International Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards.

Absolutely astonishing display of the importance of investigative journalism and the utter betrayal a government can commit on its citizens. With an attention to detail and a sense of pacing and narrative similar to the drama Spotlight, Collective is as thrilling as it is devastating. A must watch.

A relevant issue how system polices the system itself, prevailing mutually assured corruption. Displaying almost inhuman levels of faceless cynicism, with no actual political grandstanding or "experts" talking directly into camera. This of course, doesn't prevent a certain part of the world to immediately project, long hauled corruption in the Eastern Europe onto their own dissatisfaction with their government, pretending it's the same thing because "if it can't be about me, it might as well doesn't exist". Good job America. What should be immensely admired is director's transparent insight into both news room and ministry cabinet, especially, when you consider the clash of interest this would cause, since it all was happening simultaneously.

This documentary focuses mostly on a corruption scandal involving disinfectants sold to hospitals by a Romanian chemical company in the wake of a deadly club fire that led to protests and the fall of a government. It is very fly-on-the-wall without much background beyond the minimum but it is quite riveting and very interesting.

Heartbreaking and insightful

Compelling investigation of corruption following a tragic fire in Romania but could easily have taken place in many countries including the Untied States. Remember that journalists have uncovered many governmental and corporate crimes against us, we the people. I have always enjoyed this theme from All the King's Men to Spotlight.

Collective shows how a government can prioritize money over the safety and health of its people and makes for an engaging, depressing, and memorable watch.

Stunning expose of government when corrupted. Brilliant in every respect.

So proud of my country for this. The first romanian production to get nominated for the Oscars. I think it's well deserved, what happened back in 2015 in that club was terrible, but the worst part is after that, because our country and our government is corrupt to the core and people from the rest of the world should acknowledge the fact that Romania is a good country but it was ruined by it's weak and greedy politicians and their selfishness.

An incredibly important film! Shows just how far and how damaging corruption reaches into everyday lives.

This movie is a gut-wrenching look at money in politics and how it destroys any government that allows money to have a say. It is hard to forget this story.

Collective is a remarkable documentary, a devastating and often painful look at widespread corruption and human tragedy. In 2015 a fire broke out at the Colectiv night club in Bucharest, Romania. A tragic event leaving 27 people dead. But an even bigger tragedy followed as a further 37 people died in public hospitals due to lack of proper healthcare. There were mass protests and the government resigned in the wake of this. Journalists began investigating the reasons behind the deaths and found that many patients died due to bacterial infections. Further digging showed that the pharmaceutical company was diluting the disinfectants to 10%. A new minister of health is sworn in and he tries to bring the hospital system up to an acceptable standard. What follows is an uncovering of a web of fraud and corruption from top to bottom, leaving the Romanian hospital system in disarray and unsafe for patients. This is a no frills documentary with no narration, just leaving the story to be told. It's truly devastating as the pain inflicted and needless deaths is tragic beyond comprehension. This superb film is also a testament to the power of investigative journalism and shows just how truly vital it is in democratic societies.

Romanian film nominated for Best Foreign Film and Best Documentary at the Oscars. This one is about corruption in the Romanian health care system that was discovered by journalists in the aftermath of a fire that destroyed the Colectiv club. The film is compelling, kept my attention throughout and convinced me to never seek medical care in Romania... The second section of the film follows the new Minister of Health and his ultimately unsuccessful attempts to reform the system.

This fascinating documentary follows a sharp investigative journalism team that began by investigating a fire at a nightclub in Romania that killed about two dozen young people but went on to claim nearly 40 additional lives. This movie reminded me of the wonderful film Spotlight several years ago based on the team who cracked the story about one of the cardinals accused of sexually abusing boys. While that was a reenactment of the story, Collective is a documentary that follows the team as piece together several seemingly unrelated events – the nightclub fire, the resignation of the minister of health, the death of a pharmaceutical executive - and uncover political corruption that extended into the highest levels of government. The story is exciting to watch as the various events unfold, using real-time video and archival footage. The film has gaps; for example, the way it is presented, it seems that the evidence they needed just fell into their laps more often than it probably would have in reality. However, the film provides compelling commentary on the importance of independent and investigative journalism and the journalists who work to stay focused on discovering the truth. It is a film whose message rings very true in the United States as well during this era of waning confidence in the media.

Governments and corporations everywhere must be held accountable. This is what happens when they aren't. Oscars 2021 nominee for Documentary Feature, Collective is a story of corporate and governmental corruption. There are no fancy techniques employed in the storytelling, just a determined telling of the facts. And the facts are shocking. On 30 October 2015 a fire broke out in the nightclub, Collectiv – the footage taken inside the club is terrifying. Unable to get out quickly enough due to a lack of fire exits, 27 people died and 180 were injured. As tragic as the fire was, what started the alarm bells ringing was that during the following four months a further 37 victims died in Romanian hospitals, even though their injuries were non life-threatening. Investigating why, what a team of journalists from Sports Gazette discovered was scandalous: that disinfectant had been diluted up to 10 times rendering it ineffective, allowing deadly bacteria to run rampant through hospitals. But that was just the tip of the scandalous iceberg. Putting together testimony from hospital whistleblowers, along with reporters, Mirela Neag and Razvan Lutac, Sports Gazette editor-in-chief, Catalin Tolontan leads the charge in exposing the corruption, bribery and embezzlement that's endemic in the hospital system. Enter, former patient rights activist, Vlad Voiculescu who takes over as Minster of Health. Despite his good intentions and desire to act quickly, faced with impenetrable bureaucracy and the opposition of those with a political and/or monetary vested interest in maintaining the status quo, effecting change is an uphill struggle of Sisyphean proportions. Even more damning than the blatant disregard for human life by the government and health system as a whole and downright chilling was the disturbing communication sent to Mirela Neag that's more redolent of a warning from The Godfather than off-the-record advice from a member of the intelligence services: that they had come across "a nest of unscrupulous mobsters" and they should "be more careful, for [their] families". Although made prior to the outbreak of Coronavirus, as the world continues to struggle through the COVID pandemic, never before has an efficient and safe health care system been more at the forefront of the collective consciousness. And really, at any time, shouldn't everyone have the expectation that hospitals uphold stringent levels of hygiene and provide the highest level of care where the patient is of the utmost importance, rather than corrupt fat cats lining their pockets at the expense of people's lives? STREAM OR SKIP IT Rating: 😁 OUTSTANDING. A definite must see.

If you're looking for something nice and comforting, look away now. Romania's entry at this year's Oscars which sees it nominated for Best Documentary Feature and International Feature, is a film that will make you angry and/or despair yet its truth is undeniable and powerful. In 2015 a terrible fire at the Collectiv Club killed 27 young people and injured many. Over the following months, 37 more died in hospitals due to bacterial infection and the poor medical care they're given. Soon after, the Sports Gazette begins its investigation of the medical disinfectant used in hospital which they find out is 90% diluted from the listed amount. The breaking of this news serves as the catalyst to a series of confrontations and reactions that takes the film right up to the General Election in a few months' time. The clear and effective execution by director Alexander Nanau who co-wrote with Antoaneta Opris constructs a fascinating but also at times exasperating narrative arc that begins like Spotlight but pivots into Mr Smith Goes To Washington (but sadly minus the aspirational ending) – and I will go no further as spoilers loom ahead. What I would add is the inclusion of footage of one victim's defiantly modelling for an art exhibition turns out less jarring and more provocative than expected and I'm truly impressed with the footage the film-makers manage to get access to as well as the courage, both of the film-makers and the journalists, in exposing to the world the incredibly dysfunctional and profoundly corrupted political system that exists (note the present tense) in their country.

Collective tells an important story, but it doesn’t really tell it in that interesting of a way. The film starts off very captivating, and I wish it stayed that way throughout. The film isn’t bad by any means, but it does get boring more often than I wanted it to. I didn’t find myself as invested as I thought I’d be. I wish it wasn’t told in such a dull fashion because maybe it would’ve captivated me more. Overall, I did not hate it. No matter how negative I sound the story is an important one that should be heard. I just wish it was told in a more interesting way. I do recommend checking it out for the story though.

SCORCHING expose of the corruption (read: greed) of big business, with the unconscionable collusion of both government and healthcare officials. It resulted in horrific deaths and injuries, as well as untold medical complications over an expanse of years. An in-depth investigation by The Sports Gazette daily newspaper, headed by tenacious editor-in-chief Catalin Tolontan and his team, resulted in a searing indictment of the highest levels of government and ignited a firestorm of public protest. They demanded accountability and change on an unprecedented scale. The necessity of a Free Press, with journalists dedicated only to the dissemination of Truth to the public, has never been more validated than this film demonstrates. The search for answers that are incumbent upon leaders to provide to the public they ostensibly serve can result in nothing short of heroism. The public deserves no less. BRAVO to an excellent film with a message as timely and relevant right this moment as it always has been.

Absolutely devastating, and also incredibly beautiful the way people risk themselves to do what they feel is right. Complex and captivating.

One of the most incisive documentaries you'll ever see!