Starring: Dimitar Nikolov, Bojidar Iankov Asenov, Dimitar Banenkin
Director: Venci Kostov
Country: Bulgaria
UK Distributor: TLA Releasing
Following the death of his grandfather, Victor (Nikolov) returns to his family home from Madrid for the first time in twelve years. The reasons he left Bulgaria are clear; his home village is a patriarchal community where there is little room for self-expression and sons are expected to follow in the family’s footsteps. In fact, his father (Banenkin) has built a home for him to return to with his “future wife”. But despite his disdain for his past life, he stays past the funeral to try and reconnect with his past and, along the way, meets Liuben (Asenov).
An eighteen year-old Romani living at an orphanage, Liuben is charismatic and mischievous and follows Victor around, but what starts as opportunism transforms into a deep connection. Liuben is trapped; destitute, unemployed and a father-to-be, he knows there is no future for him. Victor, as the one that escaped, feels desperately sorry for him, knowing that he wants to help him but not knowing how.
This is such a compelling portrait of these two fascinating characters. Liuben is an uncut diamond; brash, impulsive and energetic. Victor is the opposite; thoughtful, restrained and poised. While it is the former that dominates the film, it is the latter who provides our eyes and heart.
At its core, this is a superb portrait of emigration. Victor has left and become a product of his new city, but yet he is drawn back to his roots to reopen the wounds of the past in an attempt to understand, confront and ultimately heal. The town he left behind is bleak and poor and painfully deprived. And as an outsider, he sees the corruption, prejudice and toxic masculinity exactly as it is. But yet he stays, both out of misplaced reverence for his roots, but also to try and save Liuben.
Ultimately, this is a tragic story of insularism. With a pair of deeply compelling central performances, this is an unflinching and dignified account of the residual problems in rural Eastern Europe. An honest and heartfelt social commentary anchored by a tender love story, this is a moving and sincere film.
UK Release: Out now on VOD, released by TLA Releasing on Dekkoo.
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