A Dose of Happiness

"A dose of Happiness" is definitely one of the best contemporary Bulgarian films. The story itself isn't extremely exceptional but the way it is played out and filmed is amazing. Furthermore the fact that it is based on true events and the participation of the daughter of the real life victim in the movie who is starring her mother gives it a special touch. The script realy reflects the Bulgarian way of talking, the humor and culture of living. The actors are brilliant. The main character Valentina Karoleva manages to live the part impressively. The movie is filmed beautifully - the transitions are beautifully made so the movie manages to present a long amount of time without bejnf exhausting or boring. All in all I think that "A dose of happiness" is definitely a piece of art worth watching.

One of the few movies making me feel this way. During the whole story I was emotional. I was going to cry and at the end of the movie I couldn't stop the tears. It was brilliant, including the part that as an addict you won't find much support except that one or two people who love you. The only thing it wasn't mentioned was that most of people can't stop with methadone program and they are on it whole life.

I have never watched a movie made with so much love and deep massage... it is so moving it kept me thinking about the story weeks after I watched it. I kept crying almost all the time yet I felt so inspired and full of bless and bliss! I highly recommend!

A film with a mission! Despite the hard subject of this movie, it's gifted with hope and light, without making it less thoughtful! It's not like any other film i've watched about drug addictions! There's no gloomy, moody colours to addition to cinematography! Those usually are seen in drugs-related movies, which I personally don't like at all! Brilliant work of the DoP Martin Balkansky. Yana Titova (director) did a fine and amazing job taking you through the real-life story that grabs you and leaves you speechless after that tough journey. And this is her debut future!! What to follow?! Valentina Karoleva is a super star! Can't believe she was able to play her mum's real story and went through that trauma from her childhood again! Amazing cast! Remarkable actors! Only thing I was missing was the massive fight with the addiction, but at the other hand this is exploited a thousand times, so actually saves you the pain. The message comes through very powerful anyway. And not to forget - this is Fully Independent Project! The producers should of been brave! Hope more people will watch it and the film will complete the mission of saving lives. Good luck!

Vesela Toteva believed that a film based on her book will help channel some processes which she knew can't be done only through her foundation alone (the attempts to collaborate with the state brought her disappointment after disappointment). She waited for this film like she waited for her first granddaughter. She couldn't wait for them both. I knew about her life, I've read the book, and last night we watched the film. This transition of fate into another fate, of a woman to another woman, of reality into film, it's unbelievable. Yana Titova made a marvelous job. How could a daughter play her mother suffering from addiction who only loves her daughter and heroin? What did it cost her to relive all that? Valentina Karoleva is brilliant. How could you bring all that cast, how could you shoot it like that, how could you edit it like that, how could you find a soundtrack like that, how could you do all that with a tight budget and will? I don't know. But the result is astounding. Aleksandar Aleksiev, Nadi Tsvetkova, Nicky Stoichkov, what you did gives me hope. The best way to see the power of the film is through children. We went out with eyes full of tears. A Dose of Happiness is an honest film, honest like Vesela used to be, that's why children will believe it. Like you believe a slap in the face. This is a prevention film. Watch it with your children and buy the book Disgrace and Salvation.