Bulgaria's Official Academy Awards® entry Best Foreign Language Film category Based on actual events
From the director of 'The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner'
A FILM BY STEPHAN KOMANDAREV
Synopsis
Mityo has lost everything that matters to him: his wife, his work and his
hopes. And now he's losing the trust
of his only son, Vasko. Out of desperation, Mityo agrees to smuggle illegal
immigrants from Syria through a steep
mountain pass into Bulgaria. One last
trip remains. Left at the mercy of the
Judgment Mountain, and in desperate
need of help from his ever more distant
son, Mityo will soon discover if he can
be forgiven for a terrible sin committed
25 years ago.
ABOUT THE FILM
The backdrop to “The Judgment” is the hauntingly picturesque Rhodope Mountains. The film features many breathtaking views of the mountains – so
many, in fact, that one could say that nature becomes the third protagonist of the movie. The inner struggles of a father, his complicated relationship with
his son and the lonely mountains hiding secrets from the past – all this lends Komandarev’s latest drama a rather Nordic feel. “The Judgment” is therefore
a Scandinavian-esque story about a man in search of reconciliation with himself and with his son. Will he make peace? The answer, of course, lies in the
mountains.
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The Filmmaker
After directing one of Bulgaria’s most successful films,
“The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner”, Stephan Komandarev is back with his new feature, “The Judgment”.
Stephan Komandarev is a Bulgarian director, producer
and scriptwriter, who has a number of award-wining
feature and documentaries films such as: The World
is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (It was
the first Bulgarian film, Shortlisted for the Best Foreign
Language Film at the Oscar Academy Award (2010),
and the most world-wide theatrical released Bulgarian
film ever – it was distributed in 93 countries, won 35
awards from international film festivals, out of which
1/3 were audience awards); The town of Badante
woman (2009, documentary), Alphabet of hope (2003,
documentary), Bread over the fence (2002, documentary). His last feature film ‘The Judgment’ won 10
awards from international film festivals and is the Bulgaria’s entry in the foreign-language film category of
the Academy Awards 2016. He currently works on two
documentaries and two feature films.
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Director’s Statement
I arrived at the idea for this film while shooting three documentaries in the Southeast of Bulgaria, near the spot where three borders meet – Bulgarian, Greek
and Turkish. I spent quite a bit of time there - I found many real stories and interesting characters. They are now in the film. During the communist period,
up until twenty years ago, would-be defectors from the communist bloc were trying to escape to the West by illegally crossing Bulgaria’s southern border.
Today, thousands of migrants from Syria also try their luck crossing the same border, but in the opposite direction – to the “Promised Land” of the European
Union. This strange correlation between different time periods and one and the same place was what inspired me to make this film.
Stephan KOMANDAREV
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INTERVIEW
with Stephan Komandarev
B
ulgarian director, producer and
screenwriter Stephan Komandarev
has written a number of films
and documentaries, including
The World is Big and Salvation
Lurks Around the Corner, the first
Bulgarian film to have been nominated
for an Oscar in 2010. His latest feature
film, The Judgment tells the story of the
troubled relationship between Mityo, an
unemployed widower, and his son Vasko,
against the backdrop of the economic
crisis and illegal migration flows.
“It’s about the real
lives of people, not
just another film
about communism”
What made you decide to tell this
story?
In 2002-2003 I started exploring
this very special area in south-eastern
Bulgaria, on the border with Greece and
Turkey, and shot three documentaries
there. I spent years in the area and
gathered a lot of true stories. What really
interested me is that 25 years previously,
during communism, a lot of Bulgarians,
but also lots of people from other former
communist states such as East Germany,
Hungary and Czechoslovakia, crossed the
border and headed towards Greece and
Turkey in search of freedom, and today
the same border sees waves of people
going the other way, using Bulgaria as a
doorway to the promised land that is the
European Union.
So the idea for the film came out of
these documentaries…
For me it was important to portray the
reality of life in this part of Bulgaria, where
people are very poor. Sofia, a big city, is
completely different. As opposed to the
capital, this part of Bulgaria is one of the
poorest in the country, with deserted
villages, destroyed churches… So in
2008, we started writing the screenplay.
It took us several years, 12 draft scripts,
and two screenplay programmes, one
in Poland and one in Greece, before we
finally got the film made.
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All the characters in my film are real, including their
names. Even the rock known as “The Judgment” is real,
it lies on the border with Greece. The locals told me that
to this day the bones and belongings of the people who
were thrown off the cliff can be found
at its base. For me it was important
not to end up making yet another film
about communism, because we’ve
already made lots of those, I think this
was the best way of talking about it. I
thought it would be better to show how
communism and the past influence our
current lives. Over the last 25-30 years
of transition towards democracy, we’ve
seen the same people, or their relatives,
in power.
On the TV you see happy people applying for loans
and buying things, but reality is very different.
In the film, it’s a financial institution and its
ruthless system that causes the protagonist to
turn to illegality. Did you also want to highlight
how this is part of the problem?
There are adverts for credit institutions on TV all
the time, encouraging people to take out loans.
Loans which people cannot repay, especially in
times of crisis, causing them to lose their houses,
everything. The same thing happens in America
and all over Europe, it’s part of the consumer
society: take the money and use it now, then we’ll
see what happens. I wanted to show the opposite.
Where will we be able to next see The
Judgment?
The film has participated in various festivals and
has won a number of awards. It has already been
released in Bulgaria, and has been nominated in
all categories for Bulgarian film awards. It’s already
been purchased for distribution in Germany, Greece,
Macedonia, Croatia and France, and in September
it will be screened in the United Kingdom at the
Raindance Film Festival. The film was also selected
to be Bulgaria’s Official Oscar entry and will have
numerous screenings around the US soon.
A few days ago a bilateral protocol on film
co-production was signed between
Italy and Bulgaria? What do you
make of it?
I think it’s very positive. In periods of
austerity, when the first costs that are
cut relate to culture, co-production is
the only way to survive in Europe. In
Bulgaria we have a law on cinema that
works; the Bulgarian Film Center holds
four sessions a year for minority coproductions. I hope the procedure in
Italy is just as clear.
“For me it
was important
to portray the
reality of life
in this part of
Bulgaria.”
The Judgment is a story about immigration
and the economic crisis, but it is also about
the reconciliation of a man with his son and his
past. How did you end up combining all these
elements?
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THE CAST
Miki Manojlovic / The Captain
MIKI MANOJLOVIC was born in 1950 in Belgrade, Serbia (former Yugoslavia). He is one of the leading theater and film
actors in the Balkans and Europe. He has worked with directors such as Emir Kusturica, Goran Paskaljevic, Rajko Grlic,
Danis Tanovic, Srdjan Dragojevic. His most famous roles were in the films of Emir Kusturica – “Father in Business” (1985),
“Underground” (1995) and “Black Cat, White Cat” (1998). In 2004 he was awarded the “Pavle Vuisic” prize for his contribution to cinema, and in 2008 the Sofia Award for his contribution to world cinema. He plays the role of Bai Dan in the
previous film directed by Stephan Komanadarev – “The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner” (2008).
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THE CAST
Ovanes Torosian / Vasko
OVANES TOROSIAN graduated Acting from the National
Academy of Theatre and Film Arts, Bulgaria in 2009 in the class
of professor Plamen Markov and Ivaylo Hristov. He has roles
in several theater productions, including “Billy, the liar” – dir.
Ivaylo Hristov (2007); “The Pillowman” – dir. Stayko Murdzhev
(2009); “Playing the victim” – dir. Ivaylo Hristov (2009); “The
lieutenant of Inishmor” – dir. Ivaylo Hristov (2010); “Belgrade
Trilogy” – dir. Ivaylo Hristov (2011); “Anarchy in Bavaria” – dir.
Abadzhieva Lily (2012); “Idiot 2012” – dir. Desi Shpatova (2012);
“Hamlet” – dir. Yavor Gurdev (2012). He is one of the founders
of the theater “Replica”.
Ovanes has more than 10 roles in Bulgarian feature films including “False witness” (in post production) – dir. Iglika Trifonova, “The Judgment” (2014) – dir. Stephen Komandarev
“Alienation” (2013) – dir.Milko Lazarov, “Ave “(2012) – dir. Konstantin Bojanov”, “Tilt “(2011) – dir. Victor Chuchkov Jr.,”Eastern Plays”(2010) – dir. Kamen Kalev.
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THE CAST
Ina Nikolova / Maria
Paraskeva Djukelova / Kera
INA NIKOLOVA graduated animation at the New Bulgarian
University in Sofia. Her first film
role is Emily in the feature film
Ketcove (aka „Sneakers“) (2011).
PARASKEVA DJUKELOVA is a Bulgarian
actress, born in Panagyurishte. In 1992
she graduates in Acting from the National
Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Bulgaria in the class of prof. Stefan Danailov.
She played more than 40 roles in the theatre and starred in more than 20 films.
She won twice the Golden rose award for
best actress – in 1994 for her performance
of Lily in ‘Sezonat na kanarchetata’ and in
2004 for ‘Izpepelyavane’.
She also starred in international
co-productions such as Vercingétorix
(2001), „Air Marshal“ and „I Am David“ (2003), „Icon“ (2005, with Patrick
Swayze), „The Abandoned“ (2006), as well
as TV films and series.
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THE CAST
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Assen Blatechki / Mityo
ASSEN BLATECHKI was born in 1971 in Sofia. In 1996 he graduates in Acting from the National Academy of Theatre and Film
Arts in Bulgaria in the class of prof. Stefan Danailov. He is one
of the most acclaimed Bulgarian actors and has played more
than 30 roles in the theatre and starred in more than 30 films.
He began his performances on stage as a student with roles in
the plays “Measure for Measure,” “Crazy for Love”, “Lazaritsa,” “Intruders”. He made his directoral debut with the play
“Crazy for Love”, followed by “Of Mice and Men”, “Laughter in the hall”, “Roberto Zuko”, “Forbidden for God”. He
has roles in many theater productions, including “Richard III”,
“The Marriage of Figaro,” “Three penny Opera,” “Master and
Margarita”, “Blood Wedding,” “A Streetcar Named ‘Desire’,
‘Leather and sky”, “Sex, drugs and rock and roll “, “Vrazhaletz”, “The former wife of my life” and others.
He also starred in many Bulgarian and foreign film productions.
He played in “The profit”, “After the end of the world”, “Mila
from Mars”, “Monkeys in Winter” in the television series “Sea
salt”. In 2007 he starred in Lyudmil Todorov’s “Seamstresses”.
In 2010 -2013 he plays in the popular Bulgarian TV series “Glass
House” and “The family”.
Cast
Crew
Assen BLATECHKI Miki MANOJLOVIC
Ovanes TOROSIAN Ina NIKOLOVA
Vasil VASILEV-ZUEK Paraskeva DJUKELOVA Meto JOVANOVSKI
with the special appearance of Hristo MUTAFCHIEV
Director Stephan KOMANDAREV written by Marin DAMYANOV Emil SPAHIYSKI
Stephan KOMANDAREV Producers Stephan KOMANDAREV Katya TRICHKOVA
Polly GUENTCHEVA Co-producers Alexander RIS Christine HAUPT Boris T. MATIC
Vladimir ANASTASOV Angela NESTOROVSKA Executive producer Christopher
BOJILOV Line producers Katya TRICHKOVA Christine HAUPT Production manager
Valentin VALKOV Nicole ZSCHERNY DoP Krasimir ANDONOV Music by Stefan
VALDOBREV Editor Nina ALTAPARMAKOVA Production designer Rossitza
BAKEVA Costume designer Elena STOYANOVA Sound Martin WITTE Gert
BLUMHAGEN re-recording mixer Matthias SCHWAB 1st assistant director Jane
KORTOSHEV Make up designer Goran IGNJATOVSKI
Partners
REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
STATE INSTITUTE OF CULTURE
A Discovery to Share
Festivals and Awards (Selection):
• 2014: Sofia International Film Festival (Bulgaria) | Best Bulgarian Feature Film
• 2014: Warsaw Film Festival (Poland) | International competition
• 2014: Internationale Hofer Filmtage (Germany)
• 2014: Kolkata International Film Festival (India)
• 2014: Haifa International Film Festival (Israel)
• 2014: CinEast Central and Eastern European Film Festival (Luxembourg)
• 2014: Mostra Internacional de Cinema Sao Paulo (Brazil)
• 2014: Arras Film Festival (France)
• 2014: Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia)
• 2014: Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival (Bulgaria) |
Best Film and Best Actor Awards
• 2014: Goa International Film Festival (India)
• 2014: Santa Barbara International Film Festival (USA)
• 2015: Bulgarian Film Academy | 3 Awards - Best screenwriter, Best supporting
actress, Best DOP; 3 more nominations - Best feature film,
Best director, Best actor
• 2015: SEE A Paris - 3 Awards – Best film, Best actor, Best director
• 2015: Heartland Film Festival, Indianapolis (USA) - One of 5 nominees for the
Grand prize
• 2015: International Film Festival Prague FEBIOFEST (Czech Rep.)
• 2015: Vilnius International Film Festival (Lithuania)
• 2015: International Film Festival Marbella (Spain)
• 2016: Palm Springs International Film Festival (USA) | Awards Buzz
Production Info
Production Company
International Sales
US Publicist
Title (International and Original):
The Judgment
Director: Stephan Komandarev
Country of Origin: Bulgaria
Production Year: 2014
Format: 2.35 : 1
Sound: Dolby Digital
Genre: drama
Runtime: 107 min
Argo Film Ltd
Stephan Komandarev
Sofia 1124, Yantra str. 5, entr B,
+359878308238
[email protected]
Premium Films
Jean Charles Mille
6 rue Desargues, 75 011 PARIS
+33142770639
www.premium-films.com
MEDIAPLANpr
Tatiana Detlofson
825 Brooks Ave. Venice. CA 90291
+1 310 260 2800
[email protected]
www.thejudgmentmovie.bg