- Occupation
Director - Country
Bulgaria
Kantcheva Youlia
For Sale
There is an old Bulgarian tale that says, if the shadow of a living person is blended into a new construction, the latter will become stronger and endure firmly the traces of time and blows of nature. Each autumn hundreds of Bulgarians, Turks and Gypsies, from various ages and social backgrounds, leave for the Black sea and spend most of the year far away from their families, enduring inhuman conditions – thus turning them into immigrants in their own country. The film reveals the loneliness, dreams, and future desires of the shadows of the anonymous, ordinary construction workers of contemporary Bulgaria, which has embarked on the road to Europe, but now is owned by dubious nouveaux riches, corrupted politicians and untouchable drug barons that are protected by the system.
There is an old Bulgarian tale that says, if the shadow of a living person is blended into a new construction, the latter will become stronger and endure firmly the traces of time and blows of nature. Each autumn hundreds of Bulgarians, Turks and Gypsies, from various ages and social backgrounds, leave for the Black sea and spend most of the year far away from their families, enduring inhuman conditions – thus turning them into immigrants in their own country. The film reveals the loneliness, dreams, and future desires of the shadows of the anonymous, ordinary construction workers of contemporary Bulgaria, which has embarked on the road to Europe, but now is owned by dubious nouveaux riches, corrupted politicians and untouchable drug barons that are protected by the system.
In The Mirror
IN THE MIRRORLogline In the mirrors of a regular hairdressing salon in the heart of Sofia are projected the fates and stories of four employees there and their customers. Observing them during the four seasons, we’ll witnessing diverse moments of their ordinary, but unique lives. We'll feel the bitter-sweet taste of human nature. The mirrors also reflect the accumulated with time and geographic latitude problems, insecurities and hopes of a whole nation.SynopsisThis is a factual cinematic story about what happens in an ordinary Bulgarian hairdressing salon and through it we’ll try to take the pulse of the Bulgarian society at the moment. Metaphorically seen – the huge windows facing a central avenue in Sofia remind a mirror of the microscope of life. The story will look like and will be told as a puzzle.In this glass cell are locked up the destinies of the main film characters – three hairdressers and one beautician. All four of them are typical representatives of the generation who grew up during the years of communism and has not forgotten its traits; they are also yet to understand the merits of the long-coming and still missing democracy. Those who, following historical circumstances, have had a messed up past and an even more unclear future in the labyrinth of time. The salon welcomes, just like a psychoanalyst, all sorts of customers who arrive with their heartfelt confessions. The mirror resembles a colorful kaleidoscope of the whole society – arrogant TV presenters, lawyers who succeed milking people’s misfortunes, the silicon Barbie dolls of the ‘thugs’, the gypsy ladies from the ghettoes with bleached hair, the retired desperate and impoverished old ladies, the menopause ladies willowing in anticipation of the unfulfilled true love, the bolding playboys… In fact – all of us are there - possessing the inherent human desire for change and beauty! Our reflections in the mirror will paint the diverse portrait of the human being and of contemporary Bulgaria.
IN THE MIRRORLogline In the mirrors of a regular hairdressing salon in the heart of Sofia are projected the fates and stories of four employees there and their customers. Observing them during the four seasons, we’ll witnessing diverse moments of their ordinary, but unique lives. We'll feel the bitter-sweet taste of human nature. The mirrors also reflect the accumulated with time and geographic latitude problems, insecurities and hopes of a whole nation.SynopsisThis is a factual cinematic story about what happens in an ordinary Bulgarian hairdressing salon and through it we’ll try to take the pulse of the Bulgarian society at the moment. Metaphorically seen – the huge windows facing a central avenue in Sofia remind a mirror of the microscope of life. The story will look like and will be told as a puzzle.In this glass cell are locked up the destinies of the main film characters – three hairdressers and one beautician. All four of them are typical representatives of the generation who grew up during the years of communism and has not forgotten its traits; they are also yet to understand the merits of the long-coming and still missing democracy. Those who, following historical circumstances, have had a messed up past and an even more unclear future in the labyrinth of time. The salon welcomes, just like a psychoanalyst, all sorts of customers who arrive with their heartfelt confessions. The mirror resembles a colorful kaleidoscope of the whole society – arrogant TV presenters, lawyers who succeed milking people’s misfortunes, the silicon Barbie dolls of the ‘thugs’, the gypsy ladies from the ghettoes with bleached hair, the retired desperate and impoverished old ladies, the menopause ladies willowing in anticipation of the unfulfilled true love, the bolding playboys… In fact – all of us are there - possessing the inherent human desire for change and beauty! Our reflections in the mirror will paint the diverse portrait of the human being and of contemporary Bulgaria.
Author and Director YOULIA KANTCHEVAShe has written, directed and produced more than 18 documentaries, 2 feature films, 2 TV dramas, a few TV programs for BNTV. She is also an Ass. Professor at the NBU – Visual Arts Department. Most of her films have been selected at Film and TV festivals - in LA, Berlin, Tokyo, Lyon, Paris, Krakow, New York, Augsburg, Barcelona, Bratislava, Strasbourg, Noubrandenburg, Plovdiv, Moscow, Tallinn, etc. Because of her 3 national and 7 prestigious international awards, including the Main Prize “SILVER DRAGON” in Krakow, she often is invited as a member of international juries and forums. Y. Kantcheva’s most famous films as an author are: WITHOUT ANESTHETIC, LIFE IS AHEAD OF US, BACK STAGE, FERRIS-WHEEL, MADE IN BULGARIA, THE DARK ROADS THE BRIDES OF CHRIST GO; WITHOUT FAMILY RESEMBLANCE; FOR SALE - nominated for PRIX EROPA 2009.She is a member of the International Doc Association /USA/ and the Unions of Bulgarian Filmmakers and Journalists, Academica 21 Association.
Y. Kantcheva’s most famous films as an author are: WITHOUT ANESTHETIC, LIFE IS AHEAD OF US, BACK STAGE, FERRIS-WHEEL, MADE IN BULGARIA, THE DARK ROADS THE BRIDES OF CHRIST GO; WITHOUT FAMILY RESEMBLANCE; FOR SALE - nominated for PRIX EROPA 2009.
1983 Best National Debute as a documentary director for GALLOP, GALLOP... 1988 Diploma of recognition at the Women in Film Festival in Los Angeles, for WITHOUT ABAESTHESIC 1989 Three awards at 5-th World TV Festival in Tokyo 1989 Special Pize at the PRIX EUROPA Festival - Strasbourg, for WITHOUT ABAESTHESIC 1989 Main Prize SILVER DRAGON for the documentary LIVE IS AHEAD OF USat the International Film Fesibal - Krakow 2001-2002 FULBRIGHT Award 2007 The Jury's Special Prize for the documentary THE DARK ROADS THE BRIDES OF CHRIST GO at the International Film Festival "Zolotoy Vitiyaz" - Russia