Strah

In contrast to new school Bulgarian directors, trying to make movies about times they haven't lived in, there are the old school directors, trying to make movies about times they wish they haven't lived in.

There's always this slow-paced melancholic vibe, often represented in black and white, weird, piss-poor characters that the director tries to pursue the viewer are beings who don't deserve their misery, but often fails so. And so it happens here. The failure, I mean. Our "heroine" is one of those unpleasant, overacting stereotypical characters you can hardly associate with, let alone like. The story becomes predictable 10 minutes in and it's not an original one. Nor it is intriguing or touching. Frankly, I could hardly care about the faith of any of the screen characters. They are completely lifeless. Soulless. Same old, same old.

Ivailo Hristov was a good theatrical actor (back in the day, when every stage act wasn't a mixture of back pain and boredom) but is not really fit for cinema director. All of his movies are based on superficially pumped but painfully cliched topics of little significance and carry the same message, the same moral dilemmas, the same confrontations and the same attempts to crack some jokes in the middle of it all. But it is the fact this movie has been deliberately funded by the National Movie Fund, just so there's Bulgarian submission for 2021 Oscars, is what really pisses me off. Oh, you insolent, selfish mðthérfúçkers.

Thanks to Cinemax TV program I had watched this low rated Bulgarian movie. I'm Bulgarian and never heard this one before so I'm surprised how black and white recorded movie could took my attention. Literally watched it on 100 % interest. It's a movie for the things of the life especially shown from the Bulgarian side. People in the small villages are with simple minds , they are hard to accept the new and the unknown and in this particular situation is perfect way to understand what is it. Also give you a good point that everyone is equal on this planet. Please watch it you won't regret for it.

Critically acclaimed title "Fear" comes near illusion searing, uncompromising and utterly fascinating woman portrait Norma /Svetla/ of the film community. Remains the best drama ever made about the movies because it sees through the illusions, even if Norma doesn't. Subtle, savage and insightful but with such a big heart it is as moving as it is informative about the value of making art that moves. The dialogue is so spare and cynical it has not grown old-fashioned. She is self-sufficient, she lives by herself, she has her own fears, anxieties, imaginary battles. She cannot respond to blows from the outside. Love is too busy with itself and therefore does not think realistically, that is why troubles follow it. By the time difference, also by the generation gap, love and hate, politics and economics, the gap between rich and poor. In life there are thousands of possibilities, millions of choices. The title "Fear" accomplishes that which only a truly great film can: enveloping the viewer in the story, forging an unbreakable link with the characters..!? Admiration to all cast and crew..!?

Being from Romania (being neighbors with Bulgaria, we have the same mentality), I understand the film very well. I only give it 9 out of 10, because it's black and white....the images could've been very nice, especially from the seashore. That's right, I'm not really an ''artist'', i am just a viewer!

The movie is everything you need it to be - there is drama, suspense, slow moments and humor! Very nice cinematography and absolutely amazing representation of Bulgarian mentality about foreigners or anything that's different from them.