Film Archive

Christmas Tree Upside Down

Official Selection - Competition 2006 / Obarnata elha / Bulgaria, Germany 2006

Consisting of six stories linked by the image of a Christmas tree being transported from the mountains to Sofia, the film explores the existential dilemmas of people of different ages and backgrounds. Their euphoric or depressive experiences of the festive season eloquently characterise the social climate of post-socialist Bulgaria.

Synopsis

A huge spruce is cut down in the mountains to be used as a Christmas tree in the centre of Sofia. As it is transported across the country it becomes the link between six stories that explore the euphoric or depressive way in which their protagonists are experiencing the festive season. In these stories, men and women of different ages are unwittingly brought up against the question of the meaning of their lives, take stock of their situations and deal with them as best they can. Some with self-conscious pride, and others with humility. All of them are essentially trying to come to terms with their own disappointments and loneliness. Fate has awarded each a different degree of good or ill fortune, a different degree of insight or blindness. But also moments when the voice of conscience suggests the most drastic courses of action...The film juxtaposes the mentalities of people from different social classes and different places to offer a vivid picture of the social climate of post-socialist Bulgaria.

About the film

127 min / Color, 35 mm
World premiere
Director Ivan Cherkelov, Vassil Zhivkov / Screenplay Ivan Čerkelov / Ivan Cherkelov, Vasil Živkov / Vassil Zhivkov / Dir. of Photography Rali Ralčev / Rali Ralchev / Editor Gergana Zlateva / Producer Rossitsa Valkanova / Production Klas Film / Cast Alexandra Vassileva, Slava Dojčeva / Slava Doycheva, Georgij Čerkelov / Georgi Cherkelov, Krassimir Dokov / Contact filmkombinat GmbH & Co. KG, Klas Film, MDC Int. GmbH
www: www.christmastree-upsidedown.com

About the director

Ivan Cherkelov (1957) graduated in direction from VITIZ in Sofia (1982) and has written and directed the films Pieces of Love (Parcheta lyubov, 1989), Rolling Stones (Tarkalyashti se kamani, 1995), and Glass Marbles (Stakleni topcheta, 1999).

Vassil Zhivkov (1948). After studying at VGIK in Moscow (1974) he devoted himself to documentaries, was director of the Bulgarian National Film Library (1991–1998), and now works as a teacher. He has made the documentaries Sheshkingrad (1974), After the Case (Sled deloto,1978), There by the River (Tam kraj rekata, 1979), The Tigers of the Ocean (Tigrite na okeana, 1982), Days of Zheravna (Dni v Zheravna, 1982), The First 20 Years (Parvite 20 godini, 1984), Kavarna (1986), and A Satisfactory Case (Blagopoluchen luchai, 1988).