DIRECTOR: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
STARRING: Maria Bakalova, Margita Gosheva, Julian Vergov, Julian Kostov, Ivan Savov
RUNNING TIME: 1 hr 37 minutes
LANGUAGE: Bulgarian
The film is a military satire inspired by wild real-life events from the 1990s when, in the chaotic aftermath of the fall of communism, a task force comprised of high-ranking Bulgarian army officers and psychics embarked on a top-secret military operation in the small village of Tsarichina to dig up an elusive alien artifact that would change the course of history and make Bulgaria great again.
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Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov have been submitted twice before for their films Glory in 2017 and for The Father in 2020. Triumph is now their third official submission for Bulgaria. It will also be the last part of Grozeva and Valchanov's "newspaper clippings" trilogy based on articles published in the local press, after The Lesson and Glory. The screenplay was written by Decho Taralezhkov, Kristina Grozeva, and Petar Valchanov. Starring Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova, the film will debut at the Toronto Film Festival.
The submission was decided at a meeting of a five-member selection committee, the National Film Centre said. All five members of the committee supported the nomination for Triumph.
The film was produced by Abraxas Film, with Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov at the helm. Co-producers include Graal Films, the Greek Film Center, BNT, Greek National Television ERT, Five Oceans, Red Carpet, and Dystopia Films.
Triumph is a comedic drama and it was filmed in Tsarichina, north of Sofia, Bulgaria.
To check out all previous submissions for Bulgaria, click HERE.
STARRING: Maria Bakalova, Margita Gosheva, Julian Vergov, Julian Kostov, Ivan Savov
RUNNING TIME: 1 hr 37 minutes
LANGUAGE: Bulgarian
The film is a military satire inspired by wild real-life events from the 1990s when, in the chaotic aftermath of the fall of communism, a task force comprised of high-ranking Bulgarian army officers and psychics embarked on a top-secret military operation in the small village of Tsarichina to dig up an elusive alien artifact that would change the course of history and make Bulgaria great again.
***
Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov have been submitted twice before for their films Glory in 2017 and for The Father in 2020. Triumph is now their third official submission for Bulgaria. It will also be the last part of Grozeva and Valchanov's "newspaper clippings" trilogy based on articles published in the local press, after The Lesson and Glory. The screenplay was written by Decho Taralezhkov, Kristina Grozeva, and Petar Valchanov. Starring Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova, the film will debut at the Toronto Film Festival.
The submission was decided at a meeting of a five-member selection committee, the National Film Centre said. All five members of the committee supported the nomination for Triumph.
The film was produced by Abraxas Film, with Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov at the helm. Co-producers include Graal Films, the Greek Film Center, BNT, Greek National Television ERT, Five Oceans, Red Carpet, and Dystopia Films.
Triumph is a comedic drama and it was filmed in Tsarichina, north of Sofia, Bulgaria.
To check out all previous submissions for Bulgaria, click HERE.
FILM REVIEW:
(This review contains spoilers.)
“You really do come from a different planet.”
Triumph is a wild, satirical ride that blends historical intrigue with supernatural absurdity. Directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, the film reimagines a post-Soviet military operation that unearths more than it bargained for. Set largely in the infamous Tsarichina Hole, a location shrouded in conspiracy theories, the story follows a group of military officers led by General Zlatev and Colonel Platnikov. They are guided by two supposed psychics, Pirina Nyagolova and Slava, Platnikov’s daughter, in their quest to uncover a mystical artifact of extraterrestrial origin. The film is a humorous and unsettling exploration of power, belief, and manipulation in a country recovering from political collapse.
At the center of the film is the fascinating dynamic between Pirina and Slava, whose psychic abilities are exploited by the military men leading the operation. Pirina, a commanding figure who may or may not be conning the entire team, uses her position to assert authority over the men around her, particularly Platnikov, who is initially skeptical but becomes increasingly convinced by his daughter’s burgeoning psychic talents. Pirina is a manipulative figure, part spiritual leader, part grifter, who represents the complexity of navigating power as a woman in a male-dominated, post-Soviet world. Meanwhile, Slava, played brilliantly by Maria Bakalova, brings a youthful innocence to her role, caught between the desires of the men around her and the mentorship of Pirina.
Triumph blends comedy and satire with moments of genuine eeriness. There is a scene late in the film where Slava speaks to her father in cryptic gibberish that creates a chilling atmosphere, hinting at deeper mysteries beneath the absurd surface. Grozeva and Valchanov’s ability to shift between tones, from humour to tension, without losing the audience’s attention is one of the film’s strengths. The minimal use of special effects or elaborate sets adds to the film's grounded yet surreal feeling, letting the performances drive the tension and humour.
Maria Bakalova stands out in her role as Slava, once again showing the range and depth that earned her an Oscar nomination for the film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. She imbues Slava with both wide-eyed innocence and a growing awareness of the power dynamics surrounding her, making her a compelling character to watch as she navigates this strange world. The chemistry between Bakalova and Julian Kostov, who plays Private Georgi, adds a layer of forbidden romance that feels both tender and doomed from the start, heightening the film's emotional stakes.
Triumph is a sharp, eccentric satire that mixes history, conspiracy, and dark humour into a captivating package. Its unconventional plot and memorable characters offer a unique take on Bulgaria's post-communist era, exploring the strange and surreal ways people sought meaning and power in a time of uncertainty. While its outlandish premise may not be for everyone, Grozeva and Valchanov’s clever direction and their talented cast make Triumph a film worth watching, if not for its bizarre story, then for its underlying commentary on belief, authority, and manipulation. For, every day is a triumph!
(This review contains spoilers.)
“You really do come from a different planet.”
Triumph is a wild, satirical ride that blends historical intrigue with supernatural absurdity. Directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, the film reimagines a post-Soviet military operation that unearths more than it bargained for. Set largely in the infamous Tsarichina Hole, a location shrouded in conspiracy theories, the story follows a group of military officers led by General Zlatev and Colonel Platnikov. They are guided by two supposed psychics, Pirina Nyagolova and Slava, Platnikov’s daughter, in their quest to uncover a mystical artifact of extraterrestrial origin. The film is a humorous and unsettling exploration of power, belief, and manipulation in a country recovering from political collapse.
At the center of the film is the fascinating dynamic between Pirina and Slava, whose psychic abilities are exploited by the military men leading the operation. Pirina, a commanding figure who may or may not be conning the entire team, uses her position to assert authority over the men around her, particularly Platnikov, who is initially skeptical but becomes increasingly convinced by his daughter’s burgeoning psychic talents. Pirina is a manipulative figure, part spiritual leader, part grifter, who represents the complexity of navigating power as a woman in a male-dominated, post-Soviet world. Meanwhile, Slava, played brilliantly by Maria Bakalova, brings a youthful innocence to her role, caught between the desires of the men around her and the mentorship of Pirina.
Triumph blends comedy and satire with moments of genuine eeriness. There is a scene late in the film where Slava speaks to her father in cryptic gibberish that creates a chilling atmosphere, hinting at deeper mysteries beneath the absurd surface. Grozeva and Valchanov’s ability to shift between tones, from humour to tension, without losing the audience’s attention is one of the film’s strengths. The minimal use of special effects or elaborate sets adds to the film's grounded yet surreal feeling, letting the performances drive the tension and humour.
Maria Bakalova stands out in her role as Slava, once again showing the range and depth that earned her an Oscar nomination for the film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. She imbues Slava with both wide-eyed innocence and a growing awareness of the power dynamics surrounding her, making her a compelling character to watch as she navigates this strange world. The chemistry between Bakalova and Julian Kostov, who plays Private Georgi, adds a layer of forbidden romance that feels both tender and doomed from the start, heightening the film's emotional stakes.
Triumph is a sharp, eccentric satire that mixes history, conspiracy, and dark humour into a captivating package. Its unconventional plot and memorable characters offer a unique take on Bulgaria's post-communist era, exploring the strange and surreal ways people sought meaning and power in a time of uncertainty. While its outlandish premise may not be for everyone, Grozeva and Valchanov’s clever direction and their talented cast make Triumph a film worth watching, if not for its bizarre story, then for its underlying commentary on belief, authority, and manipulation. For, every day is a triumph!
