Bulgarian Lovers (Spanish: Los novios búlgaros) is a 2003 Spanish romantic comedy-drama film directed by Eloy de la Iglesia. It is based on the novel of the same name by Eduardo Mendicutti.[1]

Bulgarian Lovers
Theatrical release poster
SpanishLos novios búlgaros
Directed byEloy de la Iglesia
Written by
Based onLos novios búlgaros
by Eduardo Mendicutti
Produced by
Starring
  • Fernando Guillén Cuervo
  • Dritan Biba
  • Pepón Nieto
  • Anita Sinkovic
CinematographyNéstor Calvo
Edited byJosé Salcedo
Music byAntonio Melived
Production
companies
  • Cartel
  • Altube Filmeak
  • Cuervo Films
  • Conexión Sur
Release dates
  • 13 February 2003 (2003-02-13) (Berlinale)
  • 30 April 2003 (2003-04-30) (Spain)
Running time
101 minutes
CountrySpain
Languages
  • Spanish
  • Bulgarian
  • English

Plot

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The plot centers around Daniel, a well-off gay lawyer in Madrid.[2] He is part of a group of gay Spanish men who cruise for sex, which is treated as a form of domination. Daniel forms a relationship with an attractive Bulgarian expatriate, Kyril, for whom he makes extraordinary efforts, such as forging papers and smuggling uranium. Daniel and his wealth are contrasted with Kyril and his good looks.[3]

Cast

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Production

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The film was produced by Cartel, Altube Filmeak, Cuervo Films, and Conexión Sur.[5]

Release

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The film screened in the 53rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2003.[6]

Reception

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David Stratton of Variety deemed the film to be "full of charm, entertaining enough as it unfolds, good looking, but not especially memorable in retrospect".[2]

Stephen Holden of The New York Times assessed that the film manages to observe "the interplay of sex, power and money with a cool, amused attitude and a fine sense of social detail", "without becoming preachy or lapsing into fatuous psychological jargon".[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "«It´s for you», sexo, verdades y cintas de vídeo en el Festival de Cine de Málaga". ABC. 30 April 2003.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Stratton, David (25 February 2003). "Bulgarian Lovers". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  3. ^ a b Holden, Stephen (30 April 2004). "FILM IN REVIEW; 'Bulgarian Lovers'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Los novios búlgaros" (PDF). Berlinale. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. ^ Hopewell, John (4 March 2003). "Pi sells piece of 'bulgaros' to TLA". Variety.
  6. ^ Fernández-Santos, Ángel (13 February 2003). "Magistral evocación de Yoji Yamada del ocaso de los samuráis". El País.
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