Archive of films Provincial Hospital / Edna provintsialna bolnitsa
Bulgaria / Germany
2022, 110 min
Section:
Crystal Globe Competition
Year: 2022
A provincial hospital in Bulgaria, Covid ward. This observational documentary draws our attention to the country’s antiquated healthcare system and reminds us of our attitudes at the time when faced with an unknown threat. A skilfully constructed survey of the bleak goings-on in an underfunded facility where, even when looking death in the face, people still manage to find their sense of humour.
Synopsis
A provincial hospital serving a town with a population of 50,000 in western Bulgaria: here in the Covid ward the eccentric Dr Popov and his team are fighting to save lives. Award-winning director Ilian Metev (Sofia’s Last Ambulance), together with Ivan Chertov and Zlatina Teneva, naturally isn’t aiming to depict human suffering. Their survey of an ordinary Bulgarian hospital environment seeks instead to draw our attention to the country’s obsolete and underfunded healthcare system and, via the various situations they depict, to remind us of our attitudes at the time when faced with an unknown threat. However, the bleak proceedings are offset by cheery interviews conducted in the hospital’s rooms and corridors which show that, even when looking death in the face, people still have a sense of humour.
Martin Horyna
About the director



Ilian Metev (1981, Sofia, Bulgaria). Selected filmography: Sofia’s Last Ambulance (2012, doc.), 3/4 (2017), A Provincial Hospital (2022). Ivan Chertov (Sofia, Bulgaria). Filmography: A Provincial Hospital (2022). Zlatina Teneva (Bulgaria). Filmography: A Provincial Hospital (2022).
Contacts
Agitprop Ltd.
72, Georgi S. Rakovski Str., 1000, Sofia
Bulgaria
Tel: +359 298 314 11
Fax: +359 2 987 0417
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.agitprop.bg
About the film
Color, DCP
World premiere
Section: | Crystal Globe Competition |
---|---|
Director: | Ilian Metev, Ivan Chertov, Zlatina Teneva |
Screenplay: | Ilian Metev, Ivan Chertov, Zlatina Teneva |
Dir. of Photography: | Ivan Chertov |
Sound: | Ivan Andreev |
Editor: | Ilian Metev |
Producer: | Martichka Bozhilova |
Production: | Agitprop Ltd. |
Coproduction: | Sutor Kolonko, Chaconna Films |
Contact: | Agitprop Ltd. |
Guests

Ilian Metev
Film Director

Ivan Chertov
Film Director

Zlatina Teneva
Film Director

Evgeni Popov
Protagonist

Daniel Kadifkin
Protagonist

Martichka Bozhilova
Producer

Neda Milanova
Producer

Georgi Bogdanov
Producer

Adrian Lo
Sound Editor