blaga’s lesson (2024)

original title: Urotcite na Blaga

WHEN BANKRUPT MORALS BECOME NEWFOUND WEALTH

It doesn’t take much to convince me to watch a film, I’m open to just about anything. When I read somewhere that this was Bulgaria’s answer to Breaking Bad, I was at the cinema quicker than you could say “I am the one who knocks”. Did it live up to the hype? Well, it never stood a chance being compared to one of the greatest shows of all time, but it does hold its own and provide a gripping watch.

In a sudden twist of fate, 70-year-old widow Blaga Naumova (Eli Skorcheva) finds herself financially drained, with nothing left to spare. Despite a lifetime of penny-pinching, her modest life savings vanish in a moment of panicked vulnerability when she succumbs to the coercion of a phone scammer, tossing away her financial security. It doesn’t just leave her financially broke, but mentally broken too as she can no longer afford her late husband’s grave. Her life turns upside down when she realises that there’s no way of gaining her money back until she receives an alluring, yet suspicious offer to work. The tables turn as she takes matters into her own hands and cash begins rolling in, this time claiming her most prized attribute: her values, as she slowly and surely transforms into the scammer herself. Blaga's story unfolds against the backdrop of post-communist Bulgaria, where women like her are preyed upon by both criminals and corrupt systems.

Eli Skorcheva commands the screen with her portrayal of desperation juxtaposed with a chilling sense of composure, showcasing her prowess as a formidable talent. It’s a tour de force that anchors the film in its exploration of the darkest corners of the human experience. In fact, it’s such a good performance, it makes you forget anyone else was in the film. Director Stephan Komandarev has crafted a thrilling script that delivers a gut-wrenching finale that leaves you reeling with its sheer darkness and brutality. It’s one of the heaviest endings I’ve witnessed in quite some time. While the film may falter in maintaining its momentum at certain points, it remains a captivating and bleak exploration of the human psyche, drawing you into its haunting narrative before knocking you down with that hard-hitting ending.

Despite these occasional pacing hiccups, Blaga’s Lesson thrills with its unflinching portrayal of despair and resilience. As the credits roll, you’ll be left haunted by the film’s haunting lessons, proving that sometimes, the bleakest stories leave the deepest impressions.

★★★☆☆

21 FEBRUARY 2024