The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (2008)
"Svetat e golyam i spasenie debne otvsyakade" (original title)

The story of Alex, who, with the help of his charismatic grandfather, Bai Dan, embarks on a journey in search of his real self.

Director:

Stephan Komandarev

Writers:

Yurii Dachev (screenplay), Stephan Komandarev (screenplay),

Stars:

Predrag Manojlovic, Carlo Ljubek, Hristo Mutafchiev

8 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Predrag Manojlovic	...	Bai Dan (as Miki Manojlovic)
Carlo Ljubek	...	Alexander 'Sashko' Georgiev
Hristo Mutafchiev	...	Vasil 'Vasko' Georgiev
Ana Papadopulu	...	Yana Georgieva
Lyudmila Cheshmedzhieva	...	Baba Sladka
Nikolai Urumov	...	State Security Agent
Vasil Vasilev-Zueka	...	Ivo Chikagoto
Dorka Gryllus	...	Maria
Heinz Josef Braun	...	Dr. Schreiber
Stefan Valdobrev	...	Stoyan
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rok Cvetkov	...	Chef 1
Dobrin Dosev	...	Smuggler
Alexander Doynov	...	Backgammon player
Branislav Fistric	...	Chef 2
Georgi Kadurin	...	Sforza

Storyline

What's in a game? For a young man, who has left his country behind, lost his memory and forgotten his love, the game might be the only way out. This is a story about a Bulgarian boy who grows up to be a German man. After a car accident Alex can't remember even what his name is. In an attempt to cure him from amnesia, his grandfather Bai Dan comes over to Germany and organizes a spiritual journey for his grandson back into his past, to the country where he came from. In changing places, time and transport, crossing half Europe, they play backgammon, the simplest, and yet the most complex of all games. That game leads Alex to the realizations of who he is, and that game is symbolic to the story. Destiny is the dice we hold in our own hands and life is a game on the edge between chance and skill.

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Plot Keywords:

backgammon | amnesia | dice | car accident | camp | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site (Bulgarian, Slovenian, English) Official site [France]

Country:

Bulgaria Germany Slovenia Hungary

Language:

Bulgarian German Italian Slovenian English Hungarian

Release Date:

10 October 2008 (Bulgaria)

Also Known As:

A világ nagy és a megváltás a sarkon ólálkodik

Filming Locations:

Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

RFF International, Pallas Film, Vertigo/Emotionfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min 105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bulgaria's official submission to 82nd Academy Award's Foreign Language in 2010. Made the shortlist of 9 films.

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Connections

Referenced in Estrenos Críticos: Harry Potter y las Pelis que no conocía ni Dios (2011)

User Reviews

Don't miss it

I had an opportunity to see this feature during Warsaw Festival. It made an extraordinary impression on me, and not only on me - audience immediately fell in love with it. If you are tired of full of special effects blockbusters on the one hand, and on the other you're not in the mood to watch another depressing art movie, "The world is big.." is the best answer to your demand. Of course, it's not perfect, sometimes it is even awkward - the director still has to work hard on his craft, but, after all this movie will lighten your heart. Life is worth living, life is worth acting, that's what this film is about. Miki Manojlovic is more than charming as an energetic, "crazy" grandfather who teaches his withdrawn grandson how to appreciate life. And - believe me - having watched this movie, you will start thinking about traveling through Europe on bike. Balkan spirit still works!