The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (Stephan Komandarev, 2008): Bulgaria

Reviewed by Nicholas Berquist.  Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Regardless of their flaws, some films have the rare ability to relate to an audience and become perfect in their imperfections.  Stephan Komandarev’s The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner has this rare ability.  In the sixteen months since the film’s release (October 2008) it has won several audience choice awards at international festivals such as Zurich, Warsaw, and Sofia International festivals.  Though the film moves slowly and has somewhat hastily finished subplots it left me completely satisfied and I immediately felt like telling my own grandfather how much I love him.

The film begins by introducing us to the protagonist, Bai Dan.  He is the king of backgammon in his native village in Bulgaria.  Here, backgammon is not played for money out of respect for your opponent and for the game.  Then the film jumps forward twenty some years where we see a car in a violent accident.  Sashko, Bai Dan’s grandson, is the only survivor of the accident the two other passengers are dead.  They were his parents.  Sashko has no memory of anything before the accident and doesn’t even recognize Bai Dan when he walks into the hospital room.  Bai Dan knows in his heart he can make Sashko remember by teaching him backgammon.  What unfolds from there is a wonderful story about how far we will go to help those in our family.

For such a heartwarming, complex story Komandarev didn’t make things any easier.  Because this tale takes place during two time periods the chronology is often broken up.  One story is about Sashko and his parents fleeing the Soviets, the other is about Bai Dan and Sashko returning to Bulgaria.  The screenwriting is excellent, but this aspect is often difficult to perfect.  It was at times disorienting and unfulfilling, as the better of the two stories was most definitely Sashko and his grandfather.

One scene that’s sure to make us all remember our dear grandfathers is when Saskho and Bai Dan are on a tandem bike travelling across Europe.  Bai Dan is asking Sashko to use his imagination and tell him what the other cars are listening to on the radio.  At first Sashko is reluctant but the persistence and love from Bai Dan forces him to comply.  This scene really brings out the character of these two men: Bai Dan as the loving, caring guardian and Sashko as the reluctant, wary youth who can’t remember who they are.  Both actors are talented and believable, but Miki Majojlovic (Bai Dan) really steals the show.

Cinematically, this film really brought it.  Utilizing everything from tripods, to cranes, to handhelds, this film really was spectacular to look at.  That may be enhanced by the European countryside, but someone had to decide what to shoot and what not.  Something that really was eye-catching was the way the story was introduced.  For those of you familiar with Martin Scorsese you will feel right at home during the film’s introduction.  The camera moves around a lot with a narrator describing characters as the camera pans over them.  I feel like this method was literally stolen from Goodfellas!  Komandarev did everything we ask of the so-called “A-List” directors and therefore deserves your money.  Go see The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner no matter how long it takes to say the title!