Leden Syn (2005)

This film has an extremely clever plot that takes the viewer from the heyday of communism in the mid-80s squarely to the heart of capitalist Bulgaria in 2005, the year the film was made. The dialog is witty and intelligent, and is supported by fabulous acting. Asen Blatechki in the role of the rebellious socialist artist turned capitalist success is outstanding, but my favorite performance is by veteran actress Boika Velkova, the deep-voiced, red-haired power-woman who does a brilliant job in her role as head of the "NIK" cryogenic laboratory. It is tons of fun to see Bulgaria poke fun at itself with such a fine comedy. An encounter with a gay man in a department store provokes the comment "we'll be seeing lots more of those now," while the right-hand man of the mafia can now have himself frozen for a couple of decades to escape his misdeeds with impunity using technology developed by the socialists for space exploration. The musical score supports the film superbly, and the cinematography is great. If you want to get an insider's view of Bulgaria's transition from communism to capitalism, try to find a way to see this movie. It's a real treat, and its inaccessibility to a broader public is truly a loss.