Gundi: Legend of Love

So recently this movie broke the all time record with the interest and sold out pre-sale tickets for a premiere bulgarian production. I've watched it on day 1 of the premiere in cinemas in Sofia, Bulgaria on 18.10.2024.

Before that I've watched the trailers. I looked up the budget. I researched the actors. I was prepared for it. Or was I?

Usually I am not optimistic for the bulgarian film industry. I adore my cinema, not the bulgarian one. Movies are usually really... boring. Bad acting, bad plot, overall bad experience, especially if you are looking for a quality time spent with friends and family.

This one is simply exclusive. Really rare to find a bulgarian movie with that high production value and such a captivating plot. Actors are great. Storytelling is great. I won't spoil anything else, just go watch it and see for yourself. I had a wonderful time in a full packed movie theatre. Personally for me, this is one of the best bulgarian productions ever created, if not the best.

Yesterday I wathed the movie, few days after the premiere. The hipe aroud it is more that.justified. The young actors plaing Gundi and Lita will have great start of their careers with this movie. I really admire the work of the producers who made a grown man cry like a little baby for 3 hours. I never expected this movie to be so impactful. In addition the actors game, I can distinguish the great work of the visual effects team, the stadiums looked great, the cars, the streeets really looked like in the 1960s. Also the way they represented the comunist regime can be compared to the HBO series Chernobyl.

Thank you for creating the best bulgarian movie of all time.

Bulgarian cinema has been stagnating for decades, and unfortunately, 95% of the films that have come out have been of extremely low quality. Many projects suffer from a lack of strong storytelling, poor technical execution, and unconvincing performances, which have kept our national film industry from competing on the global stage. However, this film gave me hope for the future of our film industry. Impressive acting, exceptional directing, a wonderful script, and incredible work behind the camera make this a standout production that feels like a turning point. The attention to detail and the emotionally charged performances kept me engaged throughout the entire film. The cinematography is also on par with international standards, capturing both the beauty and the rawness of the story in a way that is rarely seen in Bulgarian films. I'm certain that this film should be Bulgaria's submission for the Oscar for International Feature Film, and I believe it has a great chance of winning. It's a must-watch.

Knowing the life story of the legendary Bulgarian footballer Georgi Asparuhov, I knew this was going to be a tough movie to watch. Emotionally, the film takes you from the bottom to the top and all the way back down - a true masterpiece that made it impossible to hold back both the laughter and the tears. It is so much more than a movie about football, so much more than a film about Gundi. It is a tale of life during one of the most controversial periods in Bulgarian history, which has, in many ways, shaped our society today. It is a beautiful love story, an intriguing family saga, a clash between the poor and the rich and hands down the best Bulgarian movie I have seen.

Honestly it is really hard to write down anything about the movie. Such a mix of emotions. From laugh and happiness, through inspiration and pride, to the love and the pain.

It is not a movie about football or for football fans. It is a movie about the endless love for the family, the loved one and for the passion doing what you love. It is a movie about the values and beliefs of a generation that we must learn from. It is a movie about the example we all should follow. It is our duty.

And the end ... oh the end is ... Tears in the eyes, lump in your throat, countless thoughts in your head, and only one question- Why???

Gundi is eternal!