Lessons with Blaga (2023) is a Bulgarian film directed by Stephan Komandarev in which Eli Skorcheva playing one of the lead characters. Blaga, a retired teacher living in Bulgaria is swindled by someone who takes all her life savings, with no money left to live on, she has to resort to desperate and unethical means to survive in the system. The film, which has been described as raw and emotionally driven, explores the experiences of poverty, the vortices of systemic oppression and the steadfastness of the human spirit.
Plot Summary
A devoted woman of eighty, Blaga who has lost her husband, is suddenly robbed of all her savings falling for a con artist. With no money left to sustain herself, coupled with an unpardonable bureaucratic nightmare she finds herself in a difficult position. Seeking revenge against her current situation arises her involvement into criminal environment that consists of people with whom she instantly understands that there’s no equal even at the lower levels of society.
As Blaga struggles to get by, her interest in engaging in morally compromising activities also increases, testing her principles and running tensions against the values she once held. There is so much pressure on the decisions she makes as she faces the degradation of her self esteem and what used to be her identity as a teacher. Blaga’s story is about many people’s struggle to survive in a world which is often devoid of empathy towards the helpless and makes her experience quite distressing but also insightful.
Themes
Blaga’s Lessons focuses around the themes of esteem, endurance, and moral ethics against the backdrop of detrimental sacrifices. The film also provokes thoughts around how far people can go in terms of respecting their core values in order to get by and whether it is possible to remain fair in such a biased system. It also looks at the issue of old age loneliness and criticizes the society where there is no safety net for the most helpless members, exemplifying the hidden impact of financial abuse and social apathy.
Performances Eli Skorcheva is often lauded for her depth and emotional intensity as she plays Blaga. She approaches the part with vulnerability, dignity and strength as she struggles with making fateful choices that go against her principles. Such depth of Skorcheva’s dramatic performance incorporates an intense human aspect to the story which makes Blaga’s appeal believable to the audience and creates sympathy for her character. Cinematography and Atmosphere The cinematography of the film is banal and down to earth and it accentuates on the despair that is in Blaga’s world. In order to achieve this goal, director of the film Stephan Komandarev applies antiseptic visuals featuring washed out tones and close-up views that enable viewers to be in her personal space, which emphasizes Blaga’s desperation and her apprehension and helplessness growing out of being cornered in a social setting. The aesthetic features of the film serve to create the sense of real life that accentuates both Blaga’s emotional and physical struggles, and the conflict itself. Reception Blaga’s Lessons is an award-winning film which was applauded in several unrolling international festivals for its uncompromising take on societal problems and an intricate male character. The film has been noted as able to deal with difficult themes in a real and sensitive manner shying away from sensationalism but still providing an adequate and engaging film experience. A part of the movie that has enjoyed universal praise is the performance of Skorcheva, many people believe it is one of the best portraying this year.
Overall Impressions
Blaga’s Lessons is a heartbreaking and relevant film that takes an exhaustive standpoint into the lives of those for whom society has little concern. The story of a woman fighting against her own dilemmas has universal relevance of issues like integrity, justice, and survival which makes it unique and yet relevant across cultures. The film provokes sympathy for Blaga’s choices… and leaves you with a powerful understanding of the shattering effects of poverty and social disintegration.
Suggested Audience
This is a good film for people who are interested in socially relevant dramas that are character driven through moral complications. Those interested in European films, as well as those who like social cinema combined with disturbing stories, for instance, A Man Called Ove or The Florida Project, will see Blaga’s Lessons as interesting and even inspiring. It’s morefit for people who like intense, gripping but realistic plots and critical perspective narrations in the movies.
