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"Blaga's Lessons," a 2023 Bulgarian movie directed by Stephan Komandarev, stands as a monumental testament to the harsh, thought-provoking narratives that define much of European cinema. This film, bleak and powerful, encapsulates a profound sense of hopelessness and despair, traits I've come to deeply appreciate as someone born in Europe. It showcases the story of Blaga, brilliantly portrayed by Eli Skorcheva, a seventy-year-old widow whose life takes a dramatic turn when she falls victim to telephone scammers, leading to a slow erosion of her moral compass.

Komandarev continues his critical examination of the bleak social conditions in post-communist Bulgaria, focusing on the lives of senior citizens-a demographic promised dignity by politicians yet faced with a starkly different reality. The film's narrative is a compelling blend of despair and the resilience of the human spirit, though it culminates in what could be described as one of the most depressing endings in recent cinema. This ending, however, serves not just as a conclusion but as a powerful statement on the systemic failures that plague society.

Despite having seen only a handful of Bulgarian movies, "Blaga's Lessons" struck me as a fantastic piece of cinema, thanks to its fantastic acting and the way it fearlessly confronts its audience with uncomfortable truths. It's a movie that doesn't shy away from depicting the raw, unvarnished aspects of life, making it an exceptionally thought-provoking watch.

In essence, "Blaga's Lessons" is a stark reminder of the power of cinema to reflect societal issues, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate films that challenge and provoke.

This is a tough-talking film, following its own logic to the most chilling ending I can remember in any movie ever. Blaga's troubles and the choices she makes to solve them are charted with crystal-clear, dispassionate directing, photography, writing, editing and acting -- this last in a tour-de-force by Bulgarian veteran Eli Skorcheva. There's tremendous power in the control of pace exerted by.director-cowriter Stephen Komandarev. I don't remember seeing anything quite like this before. Blaga's dilemma is the kind of thing the Coens might create, but their tone would never be as real-world as this is. The question the film puts is: would we behave any differently to Blaga in the circumstances in which she finds herself?

This is one of the best Bulgarian movies I've seen. It is powerful in its depiction of how unfair reality can be. It makes you feel both compassion and hatred to people's reactions to their own bad fate. The emotion could be felt in every scene, in particular, in my mind it is imprinted the face of Blaga on the glass in the bank dividing her from the bank consultant, her solid expression that slightly gives away her desperation and panic, while also showing seriousness, maintaining dignity in such a horrible situation.

Of course, the ending is the best part, as it shows the harsh consequences of being on the wrong side. However, this exact closing makes the film even more memorable, leaving you with many questions about what is right and wrong and about Blaga's future. I highly recommend this movie!

I won't give away any spoilers, suffice it to say the filmmaker seems to be making the point that the innocent and kind are doomed to be wantonly destroyed by cruelty and greed, unimpeded by law or courage. That cowardice and indifference will hold sway. I don't know if he refers to the Bulgarian people specifically, or humanity in general. So what does he suggest? We're all are our own, and we need to arm ourselves to the teeth as the only means of protection?? Yes the film focuses on the victimization of the elderly, because they are the most vulnerable. But the major victim at the end of the film is not elderly at all. It would be interesting to hear Dr. Phil weigh in on this topic.

I was intrigued by the promise for a social crime drama in the vein of Breaking Bad and Fargo, but this movie turned out to be something entirely different. What happens in Blaga's Lessons do not stem from a conflict with the world, but rather from within - from Blaga's very sense of rightness. There's no external event that sets her in motion; it's just her need to do everything like it should be done. The fraud she later suffers is again only made possible because the criminals refer to her morals and her sense of social duty. The private lessons she teaches once again demonstrate her black-and-white thinking, the immense significance she places on minor details and how severely she judges even the slightest mistake. Ultimately, exactly this stringent mindset is why it becomes so easy for her to break bad: she already believes she's no good because of something that, in fact, is entirely forgivable. This whole character study is probably an even better idea than the promoted one and the groundwork for its development is there. Unfortunately, for me, the movie worked only after some consideration and that robed it from immediate effect in the theatre. Also, it's very Blaga-like, if you will, to measure the character's own drama against "bigger" dramas like it's done here through the image of her foreign student, a war refugee.