Bo Nan Za

This relatively short for a full-length movie (one hour including the credits) director's debut is quite experimental in terms of narrative and with meticulously shot, beautiful visuals.

There is no dialogue or apparent storyline that can be easily discerned which encourages viewers to fully engage with the multi-layered imagery, avant-garde lighting, rich sounds and breathtaking music. But don't expect a meditative Baraka-like movie: Bo Nan Za is decidedly human-centered, exploring several vibrant characters and their seemingly incomprehensible daily routines.

Yet, while open to interpretation, a very delicate storyline feels woven in the visuals: whether in the water flowing in different ways, in the clanking music of everyday life, or in the subtle repetition of scenes that might not be exactly the same the second time they appear, there is certainly more than what meets the eye. You decide whether to view the movie as a beautiful visual journey letting you travel through strange urban and nature landscapes or as a puzzle that compels you to revisit and explore for unnoticed hints and clues.

Prepare for an unconventional yet relatable experience. Drop your expectations and you might find a personal bo-nan-za, or at the very least spend an hour enjoying beautiful visual content.

On the downside, the overly lengthy credits can feel more like indulgence in a personal passion project rather than communication with the viewers. Nonetheless, the small final treat at the end is worth waiting for or at least fast-forwarding to after the credits.

Bo Nan Za creates a bizarre, transfigured world from nocturnal urban Sofia and other more desolate, sun-blighted, dust-blown expanses in Bulgaria. It combines western genre motifs with a surreal accumulation of mostly solitary characters, often engrossed in wordless rituals, all eagerly striving to navigate their own path through graft, grift, bureaucracy and other puzzling elemental tasks at the cusp of these two fused 'worlds'. The carefully crafted sound design, vivid lensing and by turns fluid and percussive editing contribute to the curious and surreal juxtaposition of disconnected lives, portrayed not just wordlessly but without any direct interaction. A bold experiment that rewards an attentive viewer.

Experimental and thought-provoking movie. It will prompt questions about the human nature and will subtly answer or give rise to deeper contemplation. A demonstration of the human will. It will lift you up and then will drag you down to the calm Perlovski waters. You will learn how to nurture and comfort the child in you, and you will wonder when the gun will fire.

This non conventional film invites you to embrace the unpredictable beauty of the human experience, leaving you with a lingering sense of wonder and introspection.

Navigate the real and surreal. Immerse yourself in the characters' stories without expectations and let your mind engage in the aftermath.