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Synopsis

Mina Mileva’s and Vesela Kazakova’s unusual documentary addresses a chapter of Eastern European history that is widely unknown in our parts of the world: shortly after World War II and the communists’ takeover of Bulgaria, numerous oppositional groups, so-called “Goryani”, formed in the mountainous regions of the country and resisted against the growing totalitarianism. The director duo reviews these events and their dramatic consequences based on the story of a young woman who enters an imaginary dialogue with her late grandfather, an orthodox priest. In the 1920s, he had first sympathised with the idea of socialism, only to turn his back on this ideology due to the brutalities of Stalin. In 1944, he took refuge in the mountains and joined the Goryani. Mileva and Kazakova subsequently examine how this dark chapter of spying and destroying oppositional opinions is still a taboo topic in Bulgaria and how these former oppressors are still shaping the country’s political landscape, even more than 25 years after the turnaround. At the same time, they make it clear that the Marx’s and Engels’ ideology is enjoying a growing popularity again, especially amongst young people in Western Europe.

Guests

Vesela Kazakova

Vesela Kazakova

Director, Producer and Screenwriter The Beast Is Still Alive
In Vienna: April 20-21

Mina Mileva

Mina Mileva

Director, Producer and Screenwriter The Beast is Still Alive
In Vienna: April 20-21

Moderator

Nicole Bachleitner

Nicole Bachleitner

Moderator Film Programme
Narrator Shorts Women and War

Ula Okrojek

Ula Okrojek

Moderator Film Programme

The Beast Is Still Alive

Original Title

Zviarat e oshte zhiv

Director

Vesela Kazakova, Mina Mileva

Script

Vesela Kazakova, Mina Mileva

Genre

Documentary

Category

East Silver Caravan

Country

Bulgaria, Great Britain

Year

2016

Language

Bulgarian, Spanish, Greek, English with Engl. sub.

Running time

90 min.

Distribution/Contact

Activist38

Dates

Friday 20.04.

19:00 Actors Studio 1

Friday 20.04.

21:00 Breitenseer Lichtspiele

Saturday 21.04.

17:00 Actors Studio 1