For many Romanians, the past returns with startling clarity as survivors and historians recount what secret police interrogations felt like in practice. The testimonies depict hours of intimidation, manipulation, and threats designed to force confessions and break resistance. Researchers say the accounts reveal patterns: surveillance before arrests, isolation during questioning, and pressure to name others. For younger generations, the stories serve as an education in how power was exercised through fear. The renewed attention is also part of a broader reckoning, pushing society to confront what was done and why it persisted.