Pyteshestvie

As in other children's movies from Bulgarian filmmakers, this story contains lessons and insights that adults can appreciate on a deeper level. Seven little street kids in the city of Sophia - in chaos in 1944 as the resistence fighters took over the helm - invent an imaginary island called Zabu, somewhere in the South Seas, and start scheming on how to get there. In order to "finance" their trip to Zabu they must raise funds, and they try to do so by making things and selling them. As the project gains momentum and gives their lives a direction and a goal, a traveling circus magician kindly helps them in their efforts. Parallel to the seven little kids and their play-acting, is a real local project to raise money for Bulgarian soldiers either wounded in the war, or away fighting. One day, a lot of the money raised for the soldiers is missing and the circus magician is called to task for the theft. The seven children argue over whether or not he is really guilty, and in the process, begin to distinguish the difference between play-acting and the real world.

Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide