Glory

In this sharp Bulgarian satire, bearded railway linesman Tsanko Petrov discovers millions of banknotes beside the train tracks. When he reports the money rather than pocketing it, his coworkers label him the “fool of the nation,” but the Ministry of Transport — currently embroiled in a scandal — takes the opportunity to parade about their new hero. Alas Tsanko looks like a loser, suffers from a debilitating stutter and might not be the best exemplar of Bulgarian honesty. But compared to the intense and driven Julia Staikov, the ministry’s head of PR, he’s an outright angel.

When Julia removes his watch — the titular Glory, inscribed and presented to him by his father—for the ceremony to present him with an improved digital model, it sets off a hilarious chain of events that threatens to bring down the Ministry thanks to a combination of corruption, irresponsibility and arrogance.

Talking Pictures is a monthly matinee series catering to the 55+ community. Patrons are encouraged to stay and chat about the movie and enjoy coffee and cookies on the house. Tickets are only $12, or two for $20.

Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov have a rare ability to make gripping, politically charged drama that is entirely accessible.

Allan Hunter, Screen Daily

Sometimes a simple premise leads to deep results. Such is the case with Glory, Buglarian directors Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov’s stirring third feature, which plays like a parable that keeps expanding its themes.

Eric Kohn, Indiewire

[An] incisive, funny cinematic parable.

Glenn Kenny, New York Times