Tamara Văscu
Tonight, at 9:45 PM in Unirii Square, audiences will embark on a fascinating journey into the heart of the Danube Delta, guided by Dan Dinu, Matei Truța, and the extraordinary voice of Medeea Marinescu.
Dan Dinu: Work on Wild Delta stretched over approximately five years—four years spent in the field filming and one year dedicated to post-production. We gathered a tremendous amount of footage, and there are still many stories that did not make it into the film. We hope to bring them together in a future mini-series.
Matei Truța: The success of Romania’s Wild Side was a pleasant surprise, one that revealed just how much interest there is in this type of content. It also encouraged us to continue developing everything we do through the Romania’s Wild Side Association—from the community of nature enthusiasts to the educational mobile app of the same name and the LYNX Festival.
With Wild Delta, perhaps the emotions are even stronger. Both we and the audience now have a reference point and a basis for comparison. We all know it’s more difficult to convincingly continue a successful story than to tell a completely new one. Still, I believe we have managed to create something truly enchanting. The enthusiasm and support of the community are there, and we hope people will love it at least as much as Romania’s Wild Side.
Dan Dinu: While filming Romania’s Wild Side, we had to navigate a global pandemic. This time, the war in Ukraine began, bringing several logistical limitations, especially regarding drone use. More than once, particularly when filming near the border, we heard air-raid sirens.
We were never in any danger, but it was unsettling to know that we were making a film celebrating the beauty of nature while, in a neighboring country, that same nature was being destroyed by tank tracks, bombardments, and marine pollution.
At the same time, the Delta also gifted us many extraordinary moments and revealed itself in ways even we had never seen before.
Matei Truța: Absolutely. Beyond its artistic and educational dimensions, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of Europe’s most spectacular wetland. We encourage audiences to discover the Delta through sustainable, slow, and thoughtful tourism—not only because it offers a richer personal experience, but also because it minimizes the impact on a fragile ecosystem.
Dan Dinu: We rarely resorted to artificially creating a certain atmosphere. Most of the time, we tried to reproduce as faithfully as possible what we ourselves experienced. Nature is the perfect muse, and there is little reason to embellish its presence.
I hope the film serves as an invitation to travel because, no matter how well we captured the Delta, it cannot compare to experiencing it firsthand. What I do hope is that everyone who chooses to visit will embrace sustainable tourism and take care to disturb nature as little as possible. Only then can this place truly be understood.
Dan Dinu: We did not conduct a large casting process. We had only a few names on a very short list. We requested voice samples from just two people, and once I heard Medeea’s voice, we stopped looking. It was love at first listen.
What surprised me was learning that she had never narrated a documentary before, because her voice is incredibly expressive, warm, and inspiring. The role of the water suited her perfectly.
What I appreciated most was how involved she became throughout the process. We adjusted lines together, adapted the tone, experimented whenever necessary. I’m not a director who imposes preconceived ideas. On the contrary, I allow myself to be inspired by every creative person I work with.
I would also like to mention another wonderful voice featured in the film: Irina Rimes, who performs the closing song. She was incredibly enthusiastic about the project and helped us tremendously. After listening to the story unfold through the voice of the water, Irina’s music takes over and completes the message. The film ends exactly as I hoped it would—with optimism and hope.
Matei Truța: We like to joke that everything we do is conceived for the long term and that all our projects are interconnected. There will definitely be a Romania’s Wild Side 2, but first we want to see Wild Delta released in cinemas and make sure that all the material that did not fit into the feature film finds its rightful place in the four-episode series version.
Dan Dinu: In all of our productions, we have always wanted audiences to feel as though they are there with us while we are filming. We rarely simulate an atmosphere; instead, we strive to convey as faithfully as possible what we experienced ourselves.