Blaga's Lessons
| Blaga's Lessons | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Bulgarian | Уроците на Блага |
| Directed by | Stephan Komandarev |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Vesselin Hristov |
| Edited by | Nina Altaparmakova |
| Music by | Kalina Vasileva |
Production companies |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 114 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Bulgarian |
| Budget | €1.14 million[1] |
Blaga's Lessons(Bulgarian:Уроците на Блага,romanized:Urotsite na Blaga) is a 2023drama filmdirected and produced byStephan Komandarev,who co-wrote it with Simeon Ventsislavov.[2]The film stars Eli Skorcheva as Blaga, a retired schoolteacher inShumen,who is grieving the recent death of her husband and falls victim to a criminal scam while trying to raise the money to pay for his gravestone.[3]
Blaga's Lessonspremiered at the57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival,where it won theCrystal Globefor Best Film. It was selected as theBulgarian entryfor theAcademy Award for Best International Feature Filmat the96th Academy Awards.It also fetchedSilver Peacock-Best Directionat the54th International Film Festival of India.[4]
An international co-production of Bulgaria and Germany, the film is the final installment in Komandarev'strilogyon Bulgarian social issues, followingDirections(2017) andRounds(2019).
Premise
[edit]Blaga is a retired teacher who falls prey to a cunningphone scam,leaving her penniless. As hope dwindles and her dreams fade away, a tantalizing yet enigmatic job opportunity emerges on her horizon. Once a strict and honest woman, she slowly begins to trample on all her principles.
Cast
[edit]- Eli Skorcheva as Blaga
- Stefan Denolyubov
- Ivaylo Hristov
- Ivan Barnev
- Gerasim Gerasimov
- Rozalia Abgarian
- Assen Blatechki
- Irini Zhambonas
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]In 2021, it was announced thatStephan Komandarevwas working on a film with the working titleHello,which would center around a 70-year-old retired teacher and wrap up his trilogy on Bulgarian societal issues which began withDirections(2017) andRounds(2019).[5]It was also reported that the film would be Eli Skorcheva's return to acting after a 30-year break.[1]
Production
[edit]Production on the movie was delayed multiple times due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.Principal photographyeventually began in 2021; however, it experienced further delays after multiple crew members contracted the virus.[1][6]
Release
[edit]Blaga's Lessonspremiered in-competition at the57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival,[7]where it won theCrystal Globefor Best Film[8]and theEcumenical Jury Award,[9]and Skorcheva won the award forBest Actress.[8]
The film will receive a theatrical release in Bulgaria on 17 November 2023.[10]It had its North American premiere at the2023 Calgary International Film Festival,in theInternational Narrative Competitionlineup,[11]and was also screened at the28th Busan International Film Festivalon 6 October.[12]
Reception
[edit]In September 2023, the film was selected asBulgaria's submissionfor theAcademy Award for Best International Feature Filmat the96th Academy Awards.[5]
See also
[edit]- List of submissions to the 96th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Bulgarian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
[edit]- ^abcDobroiu, Ștefan (27 May 2021)."Stephan Komandarev to focus on Bulgaria's elderly inBlaga's Lessons".Cineuropa.Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^Wise, Damon (18 July 2023)."'Blaga's Lessons' Review: Brutal Drama Packs A Provocative Punch – Karlovy Vary Int'l Film Festival ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved13 September2023.
- ^Lodge, Guy (5 July 2023)."'Blaga's Lessons' Review: A Victim Turns Venal In a Bitterly Potent Social Thriller From Bulgaria ".Variety.Retrieved13 September2023.
- ^"Winners at IFFI54".Press Information Bureau.29 November 2023.Retrieved29 November2023.
- ^abAndreeva, Nellie (8 September 2023)."Oscars: Bulgaria Selects Karlovy Vary Winner 'Blaga's Lessons' For International Film Race".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^Markova, Hortensia (14 September 2023)."Стефан Командарев: За" Уроците на Блага "случайността ни срещна с Ели Скорчева в една градинка с кучето ѝ".24 Chasa(in Bulgarian).Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^Hristova, Mariana (4 July 2023)."Review: Blaga's Lessons".Cineuropa.Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^abSzalai, Georg; Feinberg, Scott (8 July 2023)."'Blaga's Lessons' Wins Karlovy Vary Film Fest's Top Prize ".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^Wiseman, Andreas (4 July 2023)."Karlovy Vary Reveals Award Winners: 'Blaga's Lessons' Takes Key Prizes".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^Marinova, Venelina (8 September 2023).""Уроците на Блага" - последният филм на Стефан Командарев тръгва по кината от 17 ноември ".Fakti(in Bulgarian).Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^Nikkhah Azad, Navid (31 August 2023)."Lineup for 2023 Calgary International Film Festival Revealed".Ziz.Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^"The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List".Busan International Film Festival.5 September 2023.Retrieved12 September2023.