I have always blamed the movies produced in the US for their lack of realism. And on the contrary, I have been praising European production for its depiction of events and people as they are. A recent conversation with a friend on Skype prompted me to reconsider my stance on liberalism in European cinema after discovering a coming-of-age film called Baklava. I did my research, and was amazed by the things I found. The film was produced in Bulgaria and among other things shows the reality there – the corrupt politics related to the mafia, the bought media ( both TV and newspapers ), the horrible conditions in a Bulgarian home for children. Due to these factors, the film was banned in the country where it was produced – the government’s political influence over the media led to the prohibition of its release on their territory. However, Baklava was shown on several festivals in US, UK and Netherlands and received raving reviews from the audience – it is currently called ” The Most Wanted Bulgarian film ” and is gaining popularity day by day .
I haven`t seen the film, which is why I am going to quote its plot summary published at IMDB:
“A country in the heart of the Peninsula. Two brothers, separated by the timelessness of the Transition. A collage of an end neighborhood with a slew of funny characters, child’s fantasies and dark dreams – a quest through the intimate secrets of Bulgaria. Djore is 26, dresses in black, listens to drum & bass and does graffiti. Kotze is 9, wears a silver chain, steals, fights and loves pop-folk. Despite their differences, the brothers hit the road in search of a buried treasure, which their grandmother had willed to them. On the way they will encounter unbelievable adventures, unexpected characters and undiscovered truths.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9ShUQNvwwA