Viktoria (film)

Viktoria (Bulgarian: Виктория) is a 2014 Bulgarian-Romanian drama film written, directed and produced by Maya Vitkova.[1][2] The film premiered in-competition in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014.[3][4]

Viktoria
Film poster
Directed byMaya Vitkova
Produced byMaya Vitkova
Written byMaya Vitkova
StarringIrmena Chichikova
Daria Vitkova
Kalina Vitkova
Mariana Krumova
Music byKaloyan Dimitrov
CinematographyKrum Rodriguez
Edited byAlexander Etimov
Production
company
Mandragora
Viktoria Films
Release date
Running time
155 minutes
CountryBulgaria
Romania
LanguageBulgarian

On January 26, it premiered at 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam.[5][6][7] The film later screened at the 2014 Göteborg International Film Festival.[8]

Plot

On 10 November, 1979 - 10 years before the collapse of Communism in Europe, Boryana is determined not to give birth to a child in Communist Bulgaria. The only thing Boryana longs for is to escape to the West. But despite her attempt to protect herself from unwanted pregnancy, her baby survives... Unwanted, Viktoria is born with no umbilical cord to connect her to her mother and thus proclaimed "the baby of the decade". Viktoria becomes a symbol of Communist Bulgaria. While growing up, she dominates her environment and is at subconscious war with her mother - the one who didn't want her. But on 10 November, 1989, when the political situation collapses, turning Viktoria's life upside down, the hardships of the new time bind her and her mother together.

Cast
  • Irmena Chichikova as Boryana
  • Daria Vitkova as Viktoria (9-year-old)
  • Kalina Vitkova as Viktoria (teenager)
  • Mariana Krumova as Dima
  • Dimo Dimov as Ivan
  • Georgi Spasov as Todor Zhivkov
  • Svetoslav Draganov as Sando
  • Simeon Tsolov as Stefcho (9-year-old)
  • Ivo Karamanski as Stefcho (teenager)
  • Katerina Angelova as Baby Viktoria

Reception

Viktoria received mostly positive reviews upon its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Dennis Harvey of Variety said in his review that "“Viktoria’s” first hundred minutes or so offer an arresting mix of satire, surrealism and ambivalently angsty drama, with the helmer in precocious full command of pacing, tone and aesthetics."[9] Boyd van Hoeij in his review for The Hollywood Reporter called it "A striking first film about a young child without a belly button that explores the relationship of Bulgarians with their country, history and families."[10]

Emma Myers of Indiewire graded the film B+ and praised the performances of Chichikova and Kalina Vitkova by saying that "Kalina Vitkova, whose big brown eyes communicate a great deal of pain and longing. But it's Irmena Chichikova as Boryana who steals the screen. With deep set eyes and razor sharp cheek bones that recall Charlotte Rampling in her heyday, she’s not only striking to look at but subtly expressive. Though she puts on a stoic front, her final scene hints at the deep and invisible motivations of her character."[11]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2014 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Maya Vitkova Nominated
International Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger Award Nominated[5][6][7]
Göteborg International Film Festival International Debut Award Nominated

References
  1. "Tiger directors: Maya Vitkova, Viktoria". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  2. "Interview with Viktoria Director Maya Vitkova". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  3. "Sundance 2014: World Cinema Dramatic Competition". Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  4. "Viktoria - Director Maya Vitkova". Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  5. "THE 43RD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAM: REPORT TWO". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  6. "ViktoriaTG-2014". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  7. "ESP ALUMNI IN SUNDANCE AND ROTTERDAM". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  8. "Russian focus at Goteborg 2014". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  9. "Film Review: 'Viktoria'". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  10. "Viktoria: Sundance Review". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  11. "Sundance Review: 'Viktoria' Is A Humorous and Poetic Debut From Bulgarian Writer-Director Maya Vitkova". Retrieved April 14, 2014.


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