ТРИУМФ

The excavation of the so-called Tsarichina Hole in 1990, in which the army and self-proclaimed supernatural mediums jointly set out in search for extraterrestrial treasures, serves as the template for this surreal military satire from directing duo Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov. The tone of the film oscillates between comedy and grotesque: Soldiers carry out bizarre orders – such as to pray, sing, and brush stones – with solemn expressions and in a belief in global Bulgarian supremacy. Film critic Jack Page referred to the film as "a perfect example of Bulgarian cinema's penchant for offbeat humor" and a commentary on the absurdity of hierarchical structures.

This understated yet intense production is carried by Maria Bakalova in the role of Slava, the daughter of a clairvoyant colonel. The relationship between her and Nyagolova (Margita Gosheva) develops into a subtle critique of myth-making and gendered authority.

TRIUMPH, well received by critics in Bulgaria, was selected as the country's Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film and won Best Feature Film at the Golden Rose Festival. Cineuropa describes the film as "a suspenseful comedy that maps out the vague prophetic ambitions of a puzzled country in transition."

Largely monochrome and minimalist in its design, the film relies on ritualised repetition, fine acting performances and, time and again, eerie silence to convey a sense of collective self-deception. A thoughtful satire exploring how the identity vacuum of the post-communist era was able to fuel a belief in cosmic fantasies – a place where madness and hope go hand in hand.

Text: Simran Kashyap

Thu 06.11. I 17:30 I WELTSPIEGEL GROSSER SAAL I original version with English and German subtitles

Fri 07.11. I 10:00 I WELTSPIEGEL SAAL 3 I original version with English and German subtitles