Blaga’s Lessons

Urotcite na Blaga

64th TIFF: Greek Premiere
Blaga, a seventy-year-old retired professor, is consumed by grief following her husband's recent passing. Her singular focus becomes creating an elaborate memorial for her late spouse until she falls victim to a phone scam that robs her of her savings. Driven by desperation to achieve her goal, she crosses over to the other side of the law, becoming a scam artist herself. Going beyond a mere realistic portrayal of Bulgaria’s harsh social reality, or an insightful study of a memorable character - Blaga leaves a lasting impression, much like Eli Skorcheva's performance - Blaga's Lessons delves into the Evil inherent in all of us, in a manner reminiscent of the cinematic masterpieces of Haneke and Trier at their peak. The final installment of Stephan Komandarev’s highly acclaimed trilogy centered around the ethical crisis in Bulgarian society, the film triumphed at this year's Karlovy Vary Film Festival, and rightfully so.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Stephan Komandarev
Script: Simeon Ventsislavov, Stephan Komandarev
Cinematography: Vesselin Hristov
Editing: Nina Altaparmakova
Sound: Johannes Doberenz
Music: Kalina Vasileva
Actors: Eli Skorcheva, Gerasim Georgiev-Gero, Rozalia Abgarian, Ivan Barnev, Stefan Denolyubov, Ivaylo Hristov
Production: Argo Film
Producers: Stephan Komandarev, Katya Trichkova
Co-production: Bulgarian National Television, 42film
Co-producers: Eike Goreczka, Christoph Kukula
Costumes: Nadya Dobrikova
Production Design: Ivelina Mineva
Make Up: Bistra Kechedjieva-Kuncheva
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Bulgaria, Germany
Production Year: 2023
Duration: 114'
Distribution in Greece: Danaos Films
Contact: Heretic
Awards/Distinctions: Crystal Globe, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Best Actress – Karlovy Vary IFF 2023

Stephan Komandarev

Born in 1966 in Sofia, Stephan graduated in Film & TV directing at the New Bulgarian University (1999). His works include award-wining feature and documentary films. He is a lecturer at the Film Department of the New Bulgarian University, Sofia (since 2008). He is a 2011 EAVE graduate and a Member of the European Film Academy, Bulgarian Film Directors’ Association and Bulgarian Film Producers’ Association.

Filmography

2008 The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner
2009 The Town of Badante Women (doc)
2014 The Judgement
2017 Directions
2018 Occupation 1968 (doc)
2019 Rounds
2023 Blaga's Lessons