Glory (Kristina Groezeva , Slava , 2016) : Bulgaria/ Greece

Reviewed by Martha Castaneda at Santa Barbara Film Festival 2017

Is Honesty really the best policy? Not for Tsanko (Stefan Denolyubou), a “simple-minded” railroad worker with a disability that makes him enable to speak. “Glory” did an excellent job in exploring the corruption and ruthlessness within the company that Tsanko worked. This film follows Tsanko, the reclusive railroad worker who decided to do the right thing and the aftermath the ensues. It all started as another typical day at work for Tsanko, except for the hundred of thousands of euros he finds on his route. Rather than keeping the euros for himself (where he seemingly would be free of any crime) as many of us would, he called the police and reported the cash. The news quickly spread across the village; Tsanko became a hero overnight. The railway company rewarded him with a watch and certificate for his dignity and honesty. The “Glory” that his fame should have bestowed upon him turns into nightmare. As the Minister (for the Transit Railway Company) awards him with a new digital watch, a seemingly harmless occurrence happens. His old watch is removed by the transit P.R representative Julia (Margita Gosleva). This is were the story really gets interesting. Julia misplaces the old watch. For Tsanko the watch was profoundly important as his father gave it to him. Tsanko was persistent in wanting it back but his disability made things hard. Julia was also under stress from her husband. Julia and her husband were attending a fertility clinic and she needed stay calm and cool which Tsanko made incredibly difficult. Tsanko became so frustrated he agreed to a interview by a local television show where he accused the transit company of being corrupted. Julia wanted Tsanko to apologize immediately and he was unfortunately made too by force. The transit company made his life miserable. The film ended leaving you wonder what  Tsanko did to Julia as she finally gave his watch back. The acting, story and photography were all supremely done. “Glory” had a unique storyline and was ‘real-to-life’ which made it more the interesting. A must-see!