By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 1 cat
Director: Eloy de la Iglesia
Starring: Dritan Biba | Fernando Guillén Cuervo | Pepón Nieto
Original language title: Los Novios Búlgaros
Country: spain
Year: 2004
Running time: 101
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353818/combined
Bruce says: “My guess is the script of BULGARIAN LOVERS looked good on paper as it covers some interesting topics such as bisexuality and the culture gap between Eastern and Western Europeans; however, it does not fare well on the screen. The Spanish protagonist is Daniel (Fernando Guillén Cuervo) a wispy, sexually insecure businessman who functions as a normal human being in the business world but becomes a walking bowl of jello when he spots Kyril (Dritan Biba), a Bulgarian hustler. His best friend is Gildo (Pepón Nieto) a campy, gossipy, effeminate man who is elitist and racist as well. Throughout the film Gildo acts as Daniel’s advisor in affairs of the heart and wallet.
“Clearly, Daniel is supposed to be ‘sensitive’ although probably not in the trite way he comes across on screen. A scene where he visits his parents’ home attempts to explain away his milquetoast behavior which originated by his being pampered by the family maid and ignored by his parents.
“Daniel and Kyril hit it off in the sack and Daniel is most generous as would be expected by a hustler who returns for so many repeat performances. Kyril has some very shady friends and a fiancée named Kalina (Anita Sinkovic) who Daniel expects is a fictitious necessity in order for Kyril to maintain his masculinity. Daniel is in love. The sudden arrival of Kalina only makes his yearning for Kyril greater. His masochistic side is further titillated when Kyril invites Daniel to his wedding in Bulgaria. Of course, simpering Daniel jumps on the plane to Sofia.
“When the trio returns to Spain, the Bulgarian underworld puts pressure on everyone. At this point, the script ventures into thriller territory but the comedy and melodramatic gay angst do not allow for much suspense. The director has chosen to mix styles. Daniel often talks directly into the camera which disrupts the narrative flow. The greatest suspense in the film is whether Daniel will ever figure out that his low self esteem is responsible for his inability to fall in love with a peer rather than with men who he feels are inferior. The film does its best to convince us that Bulgarians are inferior. 1 cat”