Diada

I wasn't expecting much of this film. I just chose it as I thought appropriate to watch with my teen son... Just a warning: it is not for the faint-hearted, so think twice if you watch with under 18.

I am not sure what a non-Bulgarian audience can grasp from the dialogue - there are so many cultural elements, but even without them, the story is captivating and heart-breaking beyond geographical boundaries.

There are many strong scenes in the film, but the last two scenes will stay in my mind for years. A good film makes me wake up with the thought about the story I saw the previous night. This one is definitely this type of film. I am even writing this review as art films usually don't get high score here as many viewers will put plainly 1 or 2. And this is OK. As this film is not for the Hollywood/Netflix light film lovers.

The film is a mixture of fake taxi politics, and so much swallowed pain with some supposed struggle against songwriting, the same pathos that was captured by Yana Titova as a revolution is applied to a milf, mom and son, sex family therapy. There, of course, as always, cigarettes are the first victim. They could have done it smart and supported more and more the concern of the viewers, against the words at the entrance of the parliament..!? When I'm looking a good mystery, here we go, a fascinating story. It is shadow, it is one of the great film noirs, a black-and-white symphony that exactly reproduces Margarita Stoykova ability, on the plot, to find a tone of voice that keeps its distance, and yet is wry and humorous and cares..!?

Apart from the solid presence of Margarita Stoykova, it's just another misery story, but without the emotional effect because it's so clumsily and so dishonestly told. For one, we see the protagonist's inner state directly depicted in her scribblings, but what's even worse, any kind of problematic behavior seems to serve some very presentable purpose. Why is that now, huh? If Dida was using her body to buy herself booze instead of English lessons, would that have made her any less pitiable? Authors and audiences who cannot stand a real anti-hero only demonstrate how deeply uncompassionate they are. And I'm sick of how these self-proclaimed saints appropriate all the important topics and effectively take away the opportunity for real discussion. If you want a truthful coming-of-age drama, Kids is the obvious option, but for a more girly take, see the Israeli Six Acts.

The movie was well directed and the roles were mostly well played. What's not typical for Bulgarian movies - realistic and non-theatrical. The actors did a good job of using the dialect. Unlike in some other Bulgarian movies, the actresses who play children in this film do not look 27 years old; they are indeed teenagers, around 16-17 years old. All older actors and actresses are amazing, especially both mothers and the travel agent. Silvia Lulcheva overplayed a little, perhaps because the director was intimidated by the reputation of the great actress. The young actresses are doing a very good job.

Yes, it is another misery story as a previous reviewer indicated, but there are not too many happy stories in the poorest country of the European Union. I disagree that the story was told "clumsily" and "dishonestly". Not at all.

Extremely depressing. It had to be, just like most modern-day Bulgarian movies. It's like they must pass a certain threshold - a level of melancholy, misery, sadness, and sorrow in order to be released for production.

Some people might say it's a realistic representation of Bulgarian reality, but I think it's too much. Even if it was so accurate and realistic, why would people, in their right minds, want to see more of their brutal reality on the big screen, too? Makes no sense at all and it's a waste of time and emotions.

I actually feel bad for Ivan Barnev and Silvia Lulcheva for taking part in this. Their names are the only reason why I didn't rate it as 2/10.

Bulgarian filmmaking can do much better than that.