Five films not to be missed from the Kinomania 2023 programme

From November 16 to December 3, we will be able to enjoy the films from the selection of the 37th edition of Kinomania.

Already tickets are on sale for Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture and Cinema “Lumier”, as well as for partner cinemas “Odeon”, Dom na kinotto, Euro Cinema, G8 Cultural Center, “Vlaikova” cinema and “Slaveykov” hall.

Beyond the limits of the capital, the festival panoramas will be projected in the “Lucky House of Cinema” in Plovdiv and in the Festival and Congress Center (FCC) – Varna.

Traditionally, among the highlights of the program are a number of national premieres of the best of the past year in world cinema, as well as eternal classics, with which Kinomania pays tribute to the great masters of the seventh art.

Here are five must-see films from the Kinomania 2023 programme:

“Lessons of Goodness” (2023), director – Stefan Komandarev:

This film is a must-see not only because it is Bulgaria’s Oscar proposal, but also because it opens (November 16 at 7:00 p.m. in Hall 1 of the NDK) this year’s Kinomania.

There is no way to follow the pulse of world cinema if we do not follow the pulse of Bulgarian cinema with every new proposal that appears, especially with awards from film festivals from different parts of the world.

Eli Skorcheva in a frame from Stefan Komandarev’s film “The Lessons of Goodness” (Photo: Svetoslav Stoyanov)

Gerasim Georgiev-Gero in a frame from Stefan Komandarev’s film “The Lessons of Goodness” (Photo: Svetoslav Stoyanov)

In its short journey from Golden Rose to Cinemamania, “The Lessons of Kindness” has already managed to win the following awards: the Grand Jury Prize at the Rome Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize and the Critics’ Prize at the CinEast Festival in Luxembourg! “Lessons of Goodness” also triumphed at the film festival in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, winning three awards, including the Crystal Globe award for best film!

To date, the latest film by director Stefan Komandarev has already won 16 awards.

Actress Eli Skorcheva returns to the screen with her role in the film – after a 30-year hiatus. She is partnered by the actors: Stefan Denolyubov, Asen Blatechki, Ivan Burnev, Irini Zambonas, Rozalia Abgaryan, Ivaylo Hristov, Gerasim Georgiev-Gero and others.

Eli Skorcheva and Ivaylo Hristov in a frame from Stefan Komandarev’s film “The Lessons of Goodness” (Photo: Svetoslav Stoyanov)

Eli Skorcheva and Ivaylo Hristov in a frame from Stefan Komandarev’s film “The Lessons of Goodness” (Photo: Svetoslav Stoyanov)

Described by international critics as a “social thriller”, the film tells the story of Blaga, a retired teacher who falls victim to a phone scam and loses all her savings. When she realizes she has no chance of getting her money back, she receives a tempting but suspicious job offer. Once a strict and honest woman, in this situation she slowly begins to go against all her principles.

“Jean du Barry: The King’s Favorite” (2023), director: Maiwen:

This is the film that triumphantly opened the Cannes festival and marked the return of actor Johnny Depp to the big screen. Director Maiwen pays tribute to the legendary fate of the famous Jean du Barry – courtesan and favorite of King Louis XV.

A still from the movie “Jean du Barry: The King’s Favorite” (2023), directed by Maiwen (Source: Cinemamania)

A still from the movie “Jean du Barry: The King’s Favorite” (2023), directed by Maiwen (Source: Cinemamania)

Shot on film and amidst the opulence of the Palace of Versailles, the film follows Jeanne’s incredible journey from a girl of humble origins to a favorite of the king, who quickly falls out of favor in the years after his death. Writer, director and performer of the title role, Maiwen tightens the corset of her heroine and is worthy partner of Hollywood legend Johnny Depp, who plays King Louis XV.

Despite his good command of the French language from the years of his marriage to Vanessa Paradis, Depp underwent a special training course to achieve the specific pronunciation of the Moliere era.

A still from the movie “Jean du Barry: The King’s Favorite” (2023), directed by Maiwen (Source: Cinemamania)

One of the most memorable roles in the film goes to Comedie Française star Benjamin Lavergne, who plays La Bord, the king’s most trusted servant. Among the other stars of French cinema, Melville Poupaud, Pierre Richard and Pascal Gregory shine in supporting roles. The score is by Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck (for Shakespeare in Love).

“Jean du Barry: The King’s Favorite” is a beautiful love story that will impress viewers of all tastes.

“Pure Luck” (2023), Director: Woody Allen:

“Pure Luck” is the 50th film of the iconic American director, in which he demonstrates acrobatic cinematography. In the tradition of crime intrigue from his films “Match Point” and “Cassandra’s Dream”, Woody Allen presents his film shot as a French production – with French financing, French actors in the main roles and dialogue entirely in French – the new film of the living legend Woody Allen is a twisted love story of betrayal and revenge.

Still from the movie Pure Luck (2023), directed by Woody Allen (Source: Cinemamania)

Still from the movie Pure Luck (2023), directed by Woody Allen (Source: Cinemamania)

The beautiful actress Lou de Laage and the rising star of French cinema, Nils Schneider, star as the passionate lovers. The popular Melville Pupo plays a successful man seeking revenge for his wife’s infidelity. Comedian Valerie Lemercier (also popular for her role as Celine Dion in the biographical film of the same name) stars as the colorful mother-in-law, through whom Woody Allen’s typical humor is most evident.

Still from the movie Pure Luck (2023), directed by Woody Allen (Source: Cinemamania)

Still from the movie Pure Luck (2023), directed by Woody Allen (Source: Cinemamania)

An absolutely mandatory cinema stop for connoisseurs of the Kinomania 2023 program!

Anatomy of a Fall (2023), directed by Justin Trier, with Sandra Hüler, Swann Arlo, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis:

The film was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

The story tells of a successful German writer named Sandra, who lives in the French Alps with her husband Samuel and their blind son Daniel. The brilliant opening scene hints at the presence of tension in their isolated cabin, so when Samuel is found dead in the snow, suspicions are not long in coming…

Still from the film Anatomy of a Fall (2023), directed by Justin Trier (Source: Cinemamania)

Still from the film Anatomy of a Fall (2023), directed by Justin Trier (Source: Cinemamania)

Compellingly written and acted as a trial, the film also functions as a kind of autopsy of prejudice and ambiguity, the court an operatic stage where every gesture, word and past contact is re-evaluated.

Still from the film Anatomy of a Fall (2023), directed by Justin Trier (Source: Cinemamania)

Tense and thrilling to the last moment, “Anatomy of a Fall” unfolds like an intoxicating conundrum focused on the messiness of existence and the often elusive nature of truth itself.

“Dogman” (2023), director: Luc Besson:

This film is among the must-see titles not only because it marks Luc Besson’s return to directing after a 4-year hiatus.

Luc Besson wrote and directed Dogman, produced by his wife Virginie Besson-Silla and the director’s production company EuropaCorp. The film’s music was composed by Eric Serra, in his 16th collaboration with Luc Besson, following Subway, Le Grand Bleu, Nikita, Léon, Le 5ème élément and Jeanne d’Arc.

Still from the movie Dogman (2023), directed by Luc Besson (Source: Cinemamania)

Still from the movie Dogman (2023), directed by Luc Besson (Source: Cinemamania)

The main role in “Dogman” is entrusted to the American actor and singer Caleb Landry Jones (Under Siege, The Dead Don’t Die, Three Billboards, Get Out), who in 2021 won the best actor award at Cannes for the film “Nitram” by Justin Kurzel.

The film presents the incredible story of a child, scarred by life, who finds, seeks and finds salvation in the love of his dogs.

Luc Besson switches register with a more personal film with the dimensions of a savage farce and adds a new anti-hero to the pantheon of popular culture. In a world where violence collides with naivety, Doug is pulled over by a traffic policeman behind the wheel of a truck full of dogs, covered in blood and wearing an evening dress.

Still from the movie Dogman (2023), directed by Luc Besson (Source: Cinemamania)

During the interrogation at the police station, he tells about unimaginably shocking events and returns to childhood, when his mother runs away from his sadistic father, and Doug – at the time locked in a dog shelter – makes an unusual contract with his four-legged friends. Although shunned by society, Dogman never gives up and together with his army of animals confronts the powerful and the evil.

Other actors include: Jojo T. Gibbs, Marissa Berenson, James Peyton, Christopher Denham, Michael Garza, Bennett Saltzman and Derek Seow.

The entire program of Kinomania 2023 can be found here: https://www.kinomania.bg/bg_BG/programa.html