Well, actually i was one of the many kids that took place in the audition for that movie back in 1979. I still remember the whole thing very clearly - the big studio, the "waiting room", lots of the-then-Bulgarian film stars, etc... The whole thing started when few guys from the Bulgarian Film Corporation came and visit my school, looking for kids for the roles distribution. Luckyly i was chosen for the cast and i loved it coz meantime i read the book, but I was unfortunate in the final casting, when the film makers choose another boy for the role I was supposed to take. Well never mind! The boy really played excellent and the movie IS still a "Bulgarian Classic"!!