I watched about the first half of this movie without looking up any background on it…so, in other words, watching it “cold.” One thing emerged in the first half hour, however. Where were the Securitate? Where was a discussion of the Securitate? No, instead, we are told that Nicolae Ceausescu was interested in going to Pitesti because the army was stronger there…or to Voinesti…or he wanted to speak to the army in Bucuresti…or a clip with Army officer Ion Tecu saying they went to “Plantelor” because there was a nearby forest where the army had reserves…

The problem is, this just doesn’t jibe with what else we know.

Militian Constantin Paisie, who is portrayed for an extended period in this first part of the film, was clear in 2004: Nicolae Ceausescu did not depend on the Army or the Militia for any immediate help…he only had faith in the Securitate, and specifically wanted to be taken to a Securitate unit at Baneasa.

Stiu ca la un moment dat, Nicolae Ceausescu mi-a spus sa mergem la unitatea aia de Securitate, o unitate speciala la Baneasa, dar din partea Militiei sau a Armatei nu se astepta sa-i vina sprijinul imediat.

https://jurnalul.ro/campaniile-jurnalul/decembrie-89/ceausestii-au-crezut-ca-o-sa-i-salveze-cineva-71314.html

And a month after the trial and execution of the Ceausescus, the Ceausescus’ lawyer, Nicu Teodorescu, had stated:

“Ceausescu was convinced all along his Securitate would rescue him. He never thought the trial would end, and when it ended be showed absolutely nothing but contempt when death was pronounced,” Teodorescu says. https://archive.org/stream/NewsUK1990UKEnglish/Jan%2024%201990%2C%20The%20Times%2C%20%2363611%2C%20UK%20%28en%29_djvu.txt THE TIMES WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24 1990

UPI Archives Jan. 24, 1990

Lawyer: Ceausescus believed they would be rescued

LONDON — Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu scoffed when a military tribunal sentenced them to death and even as they faced their executioners believed state security police would rescue them at the last minute, their lawyer said in a published report Wednesday.

Nicu Teodorescu, in an interview printed in The Times newspaper, said he tried to prevent the Christmas Day execution of the former Romanian leader and his wife by advising them to plead mental instability to charges of corruption, embezzlement and the murder of 65,000 people.

‘When I suggested it, Elena in particular said it was an outrageous set-up,’ said Teodorescu, who was hastily summoned to a military barracks to conduct the Ceausescus’ defense. ‘They felt deeply insulted, unable or unwilling to grasp their only lifeline. They rejected my help after that.’

Teodorescu, one of Bucharest’s most prominent lawyers, told The Times that Ceausescu showed ‘absolutely nothing but contempt’ when the tribunal delivered its verdict of death, telling the prosecutor, ”When this is all over, I’ll have you put on trial.’ We all laughed.’

About 15 minutes after sentencing, soldiers frog-marched the couple out of the barracks and into a yard, he said. The Ceausescus believed they were being taken to a cell but instead were hastily gunned down by a rabble of soldiers, and not an organized firing squad, he said.

‘The first they knew they were about to die was when the bullets hit them,’ stated Teodorescu, who said he was about 90 feet from the site. ‘Elena and Nicolae fell head to head. As they fell their bodies spun slightly around and they fell close to each other, about 30 centimeters apart.’

His account differed from that of film shown on state-run television, which showed the blood-splattered couple propped up against a wall. The newspaper said it was possible the bodies were moved for the benefit of the camera.

‘Ceausescu was convinced all along his Securitate (secret police) would rescue him,’ Teodorescu was quoted as saying. ‘I always thought that Elena was the dominant force in the partnership, but I soon came to realize Nicolae was in command. They complemented each other perfectly, like a monster with two heads.’

The lawyer said he agreed to defend the Ceausescus because ‘it seemed an interesting challenge.’ The tribunal comprised three civilians, five judges and assessors, two prosecutors, two defense lawyers and a cameraman, reported Teodorescu, the only member to give a public account.

‘When I saw (the Ceausescus) dead, as a lawyer I didn’t feel anything at all,’ he said. ‘But as a citizen, I, like everybody, rejoiced. It was the most beautiful Christmas in my whole life.’

Teoderescu sustained a bullet wound in a firefight between soldiers and Securitate members as he returned to Bucharest, some 80 miles from the execution site. His 19-year-old son died during the revolt.

for a Romanian translation of the article, see: https://evenimentulistoric.ro/nicolae-si-elena-ceausescu-au-avut-o-singura-sansa-de-a-scapa-vii-din-unitatea-de-la-targoviste-dar-n-au-profitat-de-ea.html

and, in fact, there are the words of the Ceausescus themselves at the trial…as detailed in a previous post

Presed:  Dar la Bucuresti, in tinerii care au murit, cine a tras, peste care au trecut tanchetele Securitatii? A unei parti… [“tanchetele Securitatii, a unei parti…” this may be a reference to the ABIs of the USLA and/or a mistake/intentional mischaracterization of the concomitant participation of Army tanks in the Bucharest repression of 21/22 December 1989]

E.C. (Elena Ceausescu):  Pai, da, tero…

(N.C. (Nicolae Ceausescu) ii face semn sa taca) (Nicolae Ceausescu signals her to be quiet) [this is very revealing…clearly, Elena was stumbling into saying more than she should and Nicolae wanted to cut her off)

Presed:  Teroristi?  Teroristi?

E.C. Teroristii se spun ca sint, pe aicea vorbeau oamenii, ca sint al Securitatii…

Presed:  Teroristii sint ai Securitatii?

E.C. Asa se vorbea.

Acuz:  Si Securitatea nu era a comandamentului suprem?

https://rolandothomassonphd.home.blog/2020/04/30/the-most-accurate-available-transcript-of-the-trial-of-nicolae-and-elena-ceausescu-ii-elena-pai-da-tero/

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It is not surprising then to find out who wrote the script and screenplay for this film

…none other than Grigore Cartianu!

–someone who has whitewashed the role of the Securitate in December 1989

https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trei_zile_p%C3%A2n%C4%83_la_Cr%C4%83ciun