Rachel Tâpârjan’s adoption documentary premieres in Romanian cinemas

British director Rachel Tâpârjan’s documentary Something Familiar will premiere in Romanian cinemas on Friday, 13 November. The film follows her personal journey from a Brăila orphanage to reuniting with her biological family in Romania, and it also traces the parallel search of Mihaela, a Romanian-Canadian woman adopted from the same institution.

Tâpârjan, 37, was born Raluca and spent her first months in a Romanian orphanage just before the fall of communism. Adopted by British parents, she grew up in the UK with limited and often frightening images of Romania from 1990s media reports. In an interview with HotNews, she said that as a child she believed Romania was 'a difficult, harsh, frightening place' but visiting as an adult changed her view: 'I love coming to Romania now.'

The documentary began when Mihaela contacted Tâpârjan for help tracing her roots. During the process, Tâpârjan found her own brother and two sisters, one of whom survived sexual exploitation. She also saw the first photographs of her mother in an aunt's apartment. After completing her doctorate, she legally changed her name to Rachel Tâpârjan, combining her adoptive first name with her biological mother's surname. She described it as 'a beautiful mix' of her identity.

The film offers a personal look at adoption, identity and the changing relationship between Romania and the West. Something Familiar opens in cinemas across Romania on 13 November.