Letter to America (2000)

Ivan's best friend, Kamen, is dying in an American hospital. Since he's denied a visa to the USA and can't stay by his side in his last moments, he decides to set off for Bulgaria ... See full summary »

Director:

Iglika Triffonova

Writer:

Iglika Triffonova

Stars:

Phillip Avramov, Ana Papadopulu, Peter Antonov

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Phillip Avramov	...	Ivan
Ana Papadopulu	...	Nina
Peter Antonov	...	Kamen
Andy Barret	...	Konsulat
Joreta Nikolova	...	Restavratorkata
Krassimir Dokov	...	Tiradzhiyata
Maya Novoselska	...	Zheleznicharkata
Valentin Goshev	...	Traktoristat
Liubov Liubcheva	...	Medenata snaha
Yordan Bikov	...	Yordan
Ognyan Golev	...	Aktorat
Ivan Ganchev	...	Uchitelyat
Dimitar Krivokapov	...	Mitko
Svetlana Yancheva	...	Doda Petra
Ioshiro Terazzono	...	Seydzhi

Storyline

Ivan's best friend, Kamen, is dying in an American hospital. Since he's denied a visa to the USA and can't stay by his side in his last moments, he decides to set off for Bulgaria countryside, taking the camera Kamen has given him. After some time, he writes her a very special letter, telling all about the places and characters he meets on his way, witnesses to a time which is bound to be forgotten.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | bulgarian abroad | three word title | road movie | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Official submission of Bulgaria for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001.

User Reviews

Very authentic!

The very special in this film is the total openness towards us, the sincerity! We see those people in their world and they are not afraid to let us touch to their hearts in a something that to us might seem naivety. This sincerity and welcoming is something typical in the Balkans although it has been spoiled to a varying degree by the drive for modernisation and "Europeanisation" ever since the XIX. century. Yet it still bears its mark on the people here, and, in some spots it is preserved in its purest form! One of these we see in "Letter to America".

Although it is a feature film it feels like a documentary. Only the main characters in this story are actors. It is filmed with real people in real places that the author came upon in her search in the mountains. To a foreigner it might look as a fantasy, and the people we see are indeed living in magic and mysticism - but in their magic they are far more real than our civilisation!

You will see a lot of very old people who live by even older ways. I hope your soul will gain a little bit from experiencing this pagan-orthodox tradition where happiness, life and death are perceived in very different way from what we have become accustomed to.

One of the old heroines says to the main character, a visitor to the village just like the viewer, "I am not afraid of death! Why should I be afraid of death - I have made ready my newest and best dress! Here - come - I will show it to you! ...I am not afraid of death, I am afraid of people. Sometimes there are bad people..." These words reminded me about conversations with my own 92 years old grandmother.

Details

Official Sites:

Celluloid Dreams [Switzerland]

Country:

Bulgaria Netherlands Hungary

Language:

Bulgarian English

Release Date:

2 March 2001 (Bulgaria)

Also Known As:

Brief nach Amerika

Company Credits

Production Co:

Budapest Filmstúdió, Klas Film, Phanta Vision Film International B.V.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1