my virtual hobby … on things that impress me
Some Bulgarian movies give an artistic insight into childhood under communism, dreams and illusions then, and today’s reality. Such is the case of 2017 movie “Bubblegum” [original title: Дъвка за балончета], directed by Stansilav Todorov. Two parallel stories, intricately interwoven, one about protagonists’ past, the other – their current fairy tale. A movie about the love we are desperately trying to forget. Loved every minute of it.
Image courtesy: Lenta
Maria Theresa (1717-1780), the Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, was only 23 years old when she ascended to the Austrian throne in 1740, governing the Habsburg monarchy single-handedly. An ardent reformer of education, Austria’s military efficiency, medicine, civil rights, etc.
This engaging 2017 movie, with English subtitles, on her 40-year reign can be watched online >>>
Dimitar Pishev
Stephan Komanadarev’s “Directions” (2017) movie tells the stories of six taxi drivers and their passengers, as they move through the night, each in hope of finding a brighter way forward.
A debut role in the movie for the young talent Dimitar Pishev. A master of ceremony, musician or actor, the stage is obviously his place.
“Directions” gives an excellent “diagnosis” of the contemporary Bulgarian society. To Cannes Film Festival review >>>
Édouard Manet – father of Modernism, founder of Naturalism or godfather of Impressionism, the documentary “Manet – Portraying Life” exhibition at the Royal Academy gives the answers. The shifting ground between portraiture and genre is explored in all its complexity.
Manet, The Railway, Photo courtesy: Artsy
Ever since I have known Ralitsa Assenova in 2014 I associate the Young European Cinema Meeting in Bulgaria with her. This year (19-25 June 2017) the movies I saw were no exception – exceptionally good: “La loi de la Jungle” and “As I Open My Eyes”.
The former – a French comedy, the latter – Tunisia in the summer of 2010 – just a few months before the revolution – a moving story about the love of freedom, and not only, repressing regimes and not only. Fara herself from the movie (Baya Medhaffar) was there – in the photo below. Keep up the great idea!
From left to right: Baya Medhaffar, Ralitsa Assenova
Perfect Strangers (2016) – a very spicy and tasty Italian movie. Paolo Genovese remarkably confronts us with the idea if we want to know our friends by the face they show us or by the face they do not. An intriguing but somewhat unusual dinner: long-lasting friends decide to place their mobile phones on the table and whatever arrives (texts, WhatsApp messages, calls) they would share it with the others … In the movie (as is often the case in life) one is confronted with the indecipherability of the human soul. The finale is somehow double-edged with an unexpected turn. An outstanding movie – cast, cinematography, plot.
