Gundi: Legend of Love

So recently this movie broke the all time record with the interest and sold out pre-sale tickets for a premiere bulgarian production. I've watched it on day 1 of the premiere in cinemas in Sofia, Bulgaria on 18.10.2024.

Before that I've watched the trailers. I looked up the budget. I researched the actors. I was prepared for it. Or was I?

Usually I am not optimistic for the bulgarian film industry. I adore my cinema, not the bulgarian one. Movies are usually really... boring. Bad acting, bad plot, overall bad experience, especially if you are looking for a quality time spent with friends and family.

This one is simply exclusive. Really rare to find a bulgarian movie with that high production value and such a captivating plot. Actors are great. Storytelling is great. I won't spoil anything else, just go watch it and see for yourself. I had a wonderful time in a full packed movie theatre. Personally for me, this is one of the best bulgarian productions ever created, if not the best.

A must watch with jaw dropping plot. The actors are just unbelievable and the hype is really worth it. Even if you don't support Levski Sofia the film is spectacular because it's a story about love, about character, about communists regime, the poor, then the rich, the never the greedy. True to the fans until his last breath. The best film that Bulgaria has produced , definitely worthy of international recognition. It's humorous, romantic and veeeeery intense. Keeps you at the edge of your seat after the 20th minute. Having the film settle in, I can't find more words to admire the amazing job they have done so I will just say one last thing: watch it!

There are rarely any good Bulgarian movies but this is definitely one of them. Following the beautiful but tragic story of Georgi Asparuhov this movie takes us on a journey through the past where life can be both simple and hard at the same time. It shows us that even in communist Bulgaria football talents at the likes of Asparuhov can stand out. The passion for football and the love for the special person in your life is presented in such a great way by the two main actors - Pavel Ivanov (Gundi) and Alexandra Svilenova (Lita). Also let's not forget that the real Velichka Markova portrayed by Alexandra is also part of the production and this makes the movie as genuine as it could be regarding historical details. Everything related to production and writing is on a such high level that it may as well compete with other non-Bulgarian movies with a much higher budget.

Bulgarian cinema has been stagnating for decades, and unfortunately, 95% of the films that have come out have been of extremely low quality. Many projects suffer from a lack of strong storytelling, poor technical execution, and unconvincing performances, which have kept our national film industry from competing on the global stage. However, this film gave me hope for the future of our film industry. Impressive acting, exceptional directing, a wonderful script, and incredible work behind the camera make this a standout production that feels like a turning point. The attention to detail and the emotionally charged performances kept me engaged throughout the entire film. The cinematography is also on par with international standards, capturing both the beauty and the rawness of the story in a way that is rarely seen in Bulgarian films. I'm certain that this film should be Bulgaria's submission for the Oscar for International Feature Film, and I believe it has a great chance of winning. It's a must-watch.

Knowing the life story of the legendary Bulgarian footballer Georgi Asparuhov, I knew this was going to be a tough movie to watch. Emotionally, the film takes you from the bottom to the top and all the way back down - a true masterpiece that made it impossible to hold back both the laughter and the tears. It is so much more than a movie about football, so much more than a film about Gundi. It is a tale of life during one of the most controversial periods in Bulgarian history, which has, in many ways, shaped our society today. It is a beautiful love story, an intriguing family saga, a clash between the poor and the rich and hands down the best Bulgarian movie I have seen.