TILT - Das Spiel ist aus, wenn Du aufgibst

I was led to believe that the last few years have marked a new beginning for the Bulgarian cinema since a series of TV shows and movies have been produced and the media mainstreamed the improved acting and directing. Being disappointed of what i saw during the last 10 years I respectfully decided to give this one a chance.

On the plus side I have to admit that acting have improved, but just a very tiny step forward has been made. The performance of Baharov and Georgi Staykov were satisfactory. There are a few funny moments as well - especially the poor German translation from one of the house mates in the house in Germany. As far as I can recall this ends the advantages.

The main flaw of this movie is the clear continuation of a script lacking any challenge for the viewer, which is the main issue of the last 20 years. Too simple, predictable, boring script, lacking twists and meaningless dialogues. In my view however the successive exploitation of the political transition period in the Bulgarian post- communist film making era is the major problem- we have had enough of this. Either they are still trying to create the Bulgarian Goodbye Lenin (far far away to get there with this one) or the directors cant figure out a relevant plot. The thing is that people are fed up with this topic and they want to see something more up to date and less politically soaked. Less depressing and a little bit brighter settings could also make a difference.

That is why I can say that there has been a slow movement from the disasters produced during the last 20 years in terms of acting but the main problems still exist. As much as I want to say it this could not be an Oscar 2012 even close to a nomination. In a nutshell improved acting, bad direction and a crappy story.

Although many Bulgarian directors choose the fateful events of the end of 1989, and the subsequent transition to municipal democracy as background to their films, TILT is definitely not clichéd or melodramatic.

The story encompasses the fall of the Communist behemoth in Bulgaria and its metamorphosis in the early 1990s into the mafia that will corrupt a good part of the Bulgarian population in various ways.

My primary criticism in Bulgarian films used to be cinematography. TILT is, however, beautifully shot and the color grading accentuates the mood of the film.

The music/score was also superbly used, giving TILT a fresh breath of air. The storytelling was decent.

My only criticism of the film is the excessive use of profanity--after a while it felt forced.

10/10

TILT is a really well-told story of the unpleasant and rough Bulgarian reality after the fall of communism. It's violent and romantic, it's brutal, but honest, it's painful to the ones that once shared the characters' story and are now reminded about it, but I believe it helps them reevaluate this part of their lives and gives them strength anew to tackle their current problems.

Apart from the meaning and the message, this is one of the most professionally shot and edited movies from Bulgaria. The actors were very good - young, beautiful, sexy and very talented. The director has also done a great job, the cinematography is simply beautiful.

It has controversial and interesting characters and a good story. Maybe harder to understand for people that have never directly come in touch with communism, but keeping your attention till the end. I felt fresh after I walked out of the theater. Definitely one of the movies that the current Bulgarian generation will play to their offspring.

I didn't expect much and that's why I'm neither disappointed ,neither fascinated. We all know that the situation in 1989 was not pink. We all know a lot of stories, a lot of movies have been made about the so called"transition".And yet again the same story.I'm tired of watching the same story again and again. The forbidden love and the s****y communistic rules. The actors are new, they are fresh and may be they made me like the movie a little bit more that the others. So as a final: Not bad movie , could've been much better, but ... we can't change it now . It is not total crap , it is not an Oscar winning movie.

This movie has lots of advantages . Of course there are things that can always be made better but the movie shows progress. It's not a love story . The love story in it is only a base on which the movie is built. You don't know what will happen at the end and that is what makes it more interesting . It brings you melancholy sadness happiness nostalgic feelings and anxiousness to see what will happen next. Some find it radder depressive i find it intelligent . A good story is not always a happy ending story . Bulgarian actors have a lot of potential that is different from other nationalities but there are walls in nowadays' thinking and if that walls fall the acting will be completely astonishing . Judging this movie should be taken only as a progressive critique. Watch it with pure heart , you won't regret it .