The publication Nexta has released a documentary that examines the lives of dictators who have left their mark on the lives of people in the 20th and 21st centuries. The first episode, which was released a few days ago, presents a ranking of dictators based on their personality cult, including Romanian communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu. The series is aptly titled “Dictators Also Cry.”
The documentary series initiated by Nexta delves into the lives of world dictators, from how they came to power to how they maintained it. The creators observe that one of the characteristics of dictators is that they inevitably develop a personality cult. Their stated goal is to create an ideal society in which people live happily and prosperously, but it typically turns into a society where happiness and prosperity are exclusively distributed to the dictator and a very small circle of associates. Nexta’s ranking of dictators based on their personality cult begins with Romania’s former president, “the cobbler” Nicolae Ceaușescu.
The creators point out that Ceaușescu was born into a poor family and was influenced by communism from a young age. When he came to power in Romania, Ceaușescu demanded to be “enthroned” as president with a scepter and full powers. Even his dog, “Comrade Corbu,” held the rank of colonel and had its own room in the presidential palace, complete with a television and telephone. “He lived better than most Romanians, whom Ceaușescu had brought to abject poverty,” says the documentary’s presenter.
The documentary, illustrated with images from Nicolae Ceaușescu’s life, his dogs, and scenes from hunting parties, also recalls the role of the Securitate (the Romanian secret police) in propaganda and maintaining this personality cult. They went so far as to film the dictator in a way that made him appear taller.
Nicolae Ceaușescu had 20 residences where he lived in luxury alongside Elena Ceaușescu, the documentary further states, referring to the marble baths and gold-plated faucets that were discussed after the 1989 Revolution. “Meanwhile, the population was economizing on food and electricity to pay the country’s foreign debt.”
“Neither the title of president nor the scepter saved him. He and his wife were almost lynched by an angry mob and ended up being shot. According to prosecutors, Ceaușescu killed 60,000 people,” the documentary further presents, showing footage of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu in custody with their hands tied behind their backs before being executed on December 25, 1989.
The Nexta documentary ranks Nicolae Ceaușescu fifth in the ranking of dictators based on personality cult. Ahead of him are former Albanian dictator Enver Halil Hoxha, who ruled from 1944 to 1985; Saparmurat Niyazov, dictator of Turkmenistan from 1985 to 2006; Kim Jong Il, who led North Korea from 1994 to 2011 and was the father of the current dictator Kim Jong Un; and, at the top spot, Muammar Gaddafi, the leader of Libya from 1969 to 2011.