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Matéi Vişniec’s play Paris Attic overlooking Death (2005) reconstructs Emil Cioran fictionally through his “last” journey in his adopted city: Paris. Vişniec cleverly moves away from the hagiographic trappings to imagine – and re-imagine – Cioran’s complex life, and Romanian past. This article questions and analyses Vişniec’s attempt in the light of Emil Cioran’s relationship to his native country through a close reading of Vişniec’s play, and of some of Cioran’s writings on “Romanity” and national consciousness, or lack thereof. It also questions Cioran’s links to his native land and his famous stance on a so-called ‘Romanian Nothingness”, “Romanian Permanent Failure” which Vişniec heavily draws from in his play. In tackling such a “monstre sacré”, Matéi Vişniec not only pays a critical tribute to the philosopher but he also positions himself on what it is to feel “Romanian”, and how does it feel to be Romanian away from one’s birthplace? Or more critically, is it at all possible to feel “Romanian”?

Keywords: Matéi Vişniec – Emil Cioran – Romania – Exile – National Conciousness.