Showing both sides of humanity.
- Western review by TE
A group of German workers are hired to carry out a drainage project in rural Bulgaria during a hot summer.
This intelligently directed film tells a good story whilst also touching on contemporary issues, such as gender stereotyping and communication between people of different nationality and language.
There is an honest portrayal of the dangers of nationalism, and the threat of violence is never far from the surface, but the overall 'feel' is for the tolerance and humane warmth that is also possible.
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Gave Up
- Western review by IG
This may be a good film beyond the first 35 minutes we'll never know, found it dull, slow and pointless, the film totally failed to entertain, inform or interest us, could not bear to continue watching, turned it off.
3 out of 5 members found this review helpful.
Definitely not a Western
- Western review by JR
The mysterious and taciturn Meihard is the only one of the German construction workers who does not look down on the Bulgarian villagers, and causes tensions with his colleagues as a result. the depiction of life in a small Bulgarian village has some interest but overall the film is dull and what little happens takes a very long time to do so. It ends abruptly leaving the viewer to wonder why they bothered to watch the 119 tedious minutes
2 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
If you feel in need of a slow, well acted, but not much at all happens, narrative...
- Western review by CS
I'd read some very positive reviews of this in the media and it is a very well-acted film that conveys a real sense of authenticity
in depicting cultural tensions between a group of German workers and Bulgarian locals. It is slow, though, very, very, very slow, and while that helps in building a sense of just-below-the-surface tension this tests boredom thresholds and I'm afraid broke mine into little pieces.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Authentic and skillfully made
- Western review by ZS
The film is well made and conveys many messages.It is not for viewers who expect a lot of action .The life in a small Bulgarian village is depicted very authentically .The Slavic soul( social and psychological aspects) is revealed in a realistic and natural way.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
beautiful film, don't understand the title
- Western review by tezza
A slow-moving lyrical film about incomprehension and human understanding. A lonely, rather lost German builder falls in love with a remote Bulgarian village. There's plenty of plot along the way, but it never turns out how you'd expect. Highly intelligent, Chekhovian even.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.