Closer to the Moon

The real-life case behind Closer to the Moon is the Ioanid Gang heist, one of the most infamous bank robberies in communist Romania.

Background – Romania Under Communism

By 1959, Romania was under a strict Stalinist regime led by Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej. The government controlled every aspect of life, and secret police (the Securitate) cracked down on dissent. Many of the country’s Jewish intellectuals, who had once been part of the anti-fascist resistance during WWII, were now viewed with suspicion.

The Ioanid Gang – Who Were They?

The group that carried out the heist was made up of five Jewish intellectuals, many of whom had high-ranking positions in the communist government or military:

• Ioan (Johnny) Marcoviciu – Former Major in the Ministry of the Interior
• Alexandru Ioanid – High-ranking officer in the secret police (Securitate)
• Mihai Glazer – Engineer and war veteran
• Elisabeta (Alice) Goldstein – Journalist and activist
• Moni (Moses) Ioanid – Writer and translator

They were all former communists and had actively fought against fascism in WWII, but by the late 1950s, they had become outcasts in the regime they once supported.

The Heist – 28 July 1959

The gang executed an audacious bank robbery in Bucharest, stealing over 1.6 million Romanian lei (a huge sum at the time). They carried out the heist in broad daylight, dressed as security officers, and used a fake police car. Witnesses assumed it was an official operation, and the robbery was over in minutes.

The Arrest and Propaganda Film

The gang was arrested within months after a massive investigation by the Securitate. However, the government didn’t just want to punish them ”they wanted to humiliate them”.

The communist regime forced them to re-enact the robbery in a state propaganda film titled Reconstitution, which was meant to demonstrate the inevitability of justice. The footage, filmed by the government, shows the gang performing their own crime under duress.

The Execution

After the show trial, the five main members of the gang were sentenced to death by firing squad in 1960. Despite their cooperation in the film, the regime was determined to make an example of them.

Motive – “ Why Did They Do It?

The real reasons behind the heist remain debated:

• Escape attempt? Some believe they wanted money to flee Romania, as Jewish citizens were facing increasing persecution.
• Political statement? Others argue it was an act of rebellion against a system that had betrayed them.
• Desperation? Some think they were simply disillusioned and took a reckless chance.

Legacy & Impact

• The Ioanid Gang case remained highly secret in Romania for decades.
• The propaganda film footage still exists but is rarely shown.
• The case became a symbol of the absurdity of communist show trials.
• In modern Romania, the robbery is sometimes seen as a rebellious act against an oppressive regime rather than just a crime.