Fear

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1:55

Fear

Released Mar 11, 2022

1h 40m

Drama

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13 Reviews

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Svetla, a strong-willed widow, lives alone in a small Bulgarian village close to the Turkish border. She has recently lost her job as a teacher due to the lack of families with young children. One day, while hunting in a forest, she encounters an African refugee, Bamba, who is trying to reach Germany, and will bring about a dramatic turn in her life. Reluctantly, she offers him hospitality, but day after day, a bond develops as Bamba learns the language and takes part in her daily life. Svetla will make life-changing choices that go against her traditional community creating a revolt among the villagers. Absurd, comic and tragic situations ensue as she breaks barriers of loneliness, close mindedness and fear of the outsider.

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Dennis Harvey

Variety

This warmly ingratiating piece in cool widescreen monochrome is a keeper, reminiscent of bittersweet fish-out-of-water arthouse hits like “The Band’s Visit,” as well as select gems from Soviet-bloc nations’ 1960s new wave.

Mar 10, 2022

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A.O. Scott

New York Times

The director, Ivaylo Hristov, is adept at slow-burning suspense and comic misdirection.

Mar 10, 2022

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Wendy Ide

Screen International

There is a genuine warmth in the connection between Svetla and Bamba. Scenes in which they talk, at cross purposes and about completely different things, somehow result in a shared and satisfying understanding.

Dec 1, 2020

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Shannon Gramas

Spectrum Culture

Initially released in 2020, there could not be a more fitting moment for the film's message to be expanded globally.

Mar 20, 2022

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Ray Gill Jr.

Willamette Week

Bulgarian writer-director Ivaylo Hristov’s Fear portrays humanity with brute honesty and moments of levity.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 17, 2022

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Lee Jutton

Film Inquiry

Shot in stark, high-contrast black and white, Fear is a no-frills film that relies on the strength of its script and central performances to get its message across.

Mar 16, 2022

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Ivaylo Hristov

Director

Svetlana Yancheva

Svetla

Michael Fleming

Bamba

Ivan Savov

Ivan

Stoyan Bochev

Bochev

Miroslava Gogovska

Gogovska

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Fear: Trailer 1

1:55

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Synopsis

Svetla, a strong-willed widow, lives alone in a small Bulgarian village close to the Turkish border. She has recently lost her job as a teacher due to the lack of families with young children. One day, while hunting in a forest, she encounters an African refugee, Bamba, who is trying to reach Germany, and will bring about a dramatic turn in her life. Reluctantly, she offers him hospitality, but day after day, a bond develops as Bamba learns the language and takes part in her daily life. Svetla will make life-changing choices that go against her traditional community creating a revolt among the villagers. Absurd, comic and tragic situations ensue as she breaks barriers of loneliness, close mindedness and fear of the outsider.

Director: Ivaylo Hristov
Producer: Asen Vladimirov, Assen Vladimirov
Screenwriter: Ivaylo Hristov
Distributor: Film Movement
Production Co: Profilmes
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Bulgarian
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 11, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 11, 2022
Runtime: 1h 40m

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