Hristo Shopov

Margarit and Margarita is a poignant story of teenage love and rebellion, Nikolai Volev’s film pictures the corruption and moral decay in the late years of communist Bulgaria. Teenagers Margarit and Margarita are in love; consequently, Margarit cannot prevent himself from rising to Margarita’s defense at school when another boy plays a joke on her. Margarit is thrown out of school, and Margarita joins him. At first things are looking up for the new couple, because Margarita has an opportunity to study folk dance with Julian, an ostensibly gay dance instructor and may perhaps be able to join his company. Not only is Margarit jealous, but Julian is too, though of whom it is not entirely clear. Whatever his motives, Julian frames Margarita, and she persuades Margarit to take the rap for her, which he does. Then the lovely girl attracts the attentions of yet another shady character, the lustful and bisexual party boss Nerizanov. Things go downhill from there.Read More »

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The second half of the 60s. The era of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the sexual revolution and the rebellion of youth. Those events indirectly penetrate behind the walls of an elite English language high school. The pupils are confronted with conformity and prejudice, friendship and betrayal, the death of a best friend – situations that have molded the generation of today’s forty-year-olds. A nostalgic and realistic vision of life in language schools during the years of Socialism. Friendship, betrayal, love, hatred – they all exist in that micro-society, and the scandals are of the most diverse nature, from the pregnant schoolgirl to the latest Western gramophone records. The impressive acting of the rising stars, the conspiring comradeship of the characters and the hit song, make it a cult work among young viewers.Read More »