Archive of films Stolen Eyes / Otkradnati ochi

Bulgaria
2005, 111 min

Section: East of the West - Competition
Year: 2005

A repugnant campaign of the forced Bulgarianization of ethnic Turks (1985) leads to their mass exodus in 1989. The circumstances of triggering ethnic hatred and its subsequent repercussions frame the story of a difficult rapprochement between a Bulgarian soldier named Ivan and Ajten, a Turkish teacher.

Synopsis

1989. A motorcade of packed carscrawls towards the Turkish border under police supervision. A teacher named Ajten gets out of her brother’s car and heads back into the interior.... It’s now 1985, the year in which a repugnant campaign was launched to Bulgarianize the Turkish minority. Ivan, an intelligent, romantically-minded soldier, participated in the action. Renaming the people made them lose awareness of their identity. Rebellious Ajten organized a protest and lost her daughter during brutal military reprisals. Ivan participated in this tragedy as well. Soon afterward the two meet at a psychiatric clinic but years must go by before the woman can offer rapprochement and forgiveness.... This love story unfolds in an intense environment. The director shows exceptional tact in dealing with the mental differences between antagonistic ethnic groups still trying to overcome the traumatizing experience of intentionally promoted intolerance.

About the director

Radoslav Spassov (b. 1943) gained experience at Boyana Film Studios in Sofia before graduating in camerawork from Moscow’s Film School (VGIK) in 1971. After returning home he worked continuously with top directors Rangel Valchanov, Eduard Zakhariev and Georgi Dyulgerov. He has won a number of domestic awards at the Festival of Bulgarian Feature Film in Varna (1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984) and at the Plovdiv documentary fest (1985), but has also been honoured abroad: at the IFF in Locarno (1972) and Karlovy Vary (1976). For his contribution to Bulgarian film he was distinguished with the Order of Cyril and Methodius, 1st class (1979). Spassov debuted as a director with A Day of Forgiveness (Sirna nedelya, 1993).

Contacts

Gala Film Ltd.
1b, Strumitza str., 1000, Sofia
Bulgaria
Tel: +359 298 142 09
Fax: +359 298 129 71
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	East of the West - Competition

Director:	Radoslav Spassov
Screenplay:	Neri Terzieva, Radoslav Spassov
Dir. of Photography:	Plamen Somov
Music:	Božidar Petkov/Bojidar Petkov
Editor:	Boika Popova, Evgenia Tasseva
Producer:	Galina Toneva, Kiril Kirilov
Production:	Gala Film, koprodukce/coproduction: Yaka Dde Film
Cast:	Vessela Kazakova, Valery Yordanov, Nejat Isler
Contact:	Gala Film Ltd.

Guests

Galina Toneva

Producer

Radoslav Spassov

Film Director, Producer

Iliana Kitanova

Mira Staleva

Distributor, Festival Organizer, Other, Producer

Kiril Kirilov

Producer