<p style="text-align:left;"><img class="aligncenter" title="The World is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner " src="http://www.theworldisbig.com/en/Wallpapers_jpg/Carlo%20Ljubek%20(Alex)%20&amp;%20Miki%20Manojlovic%20(Bai%20Dan)_1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="461" />I demand that you watch the Bulgarian movie: <a href="http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/new-bulgaria-the-world-is-big-and-salvation-lurks-around-the-corner/">The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Just Around the Corner</a> or “Светът е голям и спасение дебне отвсякъде” (Svetat e golyam i spasenie debne otvsyakde). This is a link to my original review of the movie which I wrote in October 2008. I wrote in this post about the "New Bulgaria" that emerges in the film.  I also wrote about the fact that I thought it was a shame that the film wasn't in wider distribution and that</p>

<blockquote>This is the kind of story that would help more Americans understand what is happening here in Bulgaria now and the way that the communist past has influenced the people, the politics and the economy of Bulgaria.  I also think that the film begins to help explain the deep cynicism that saturates much of daily life here–cynicism which I sense in my students, my fellow teachers and Bulgarian friends.</blockquote>
But it's a film that's about more than just Bulgaria. It's about the choices we make, the things we risk for the ones we love, and distance we travel to recover ourselves.  It's not a movie about return--the home you've left you can never return to; instead, I'd say it's a movie about who we are when our identity has been shaped by multiple cultures, languages and experiences.

Oh and and it's just been put on the short list for an Academy Award in the best foreign-language film category--the Oscars.  It's one of nine movies. Apparently it was narrowed down from 65 foreign language films. According to the <a href="http://sofiaecho.com/2010/01/21/845575_bulgarian-film-on-shortlist-for-2010-foreign-language-film-oscars">Sofia Echo</a>, later this week the films will be narrowed down to the official five Academy Award nominees.<!--more-->

So to my Bulgarian readers: no excuses, I mean it came out in your native language more than a year ago. If you haven't seen it yet shame on you.  Also, you <em>could</em> download it illegally (not that I'm advocating this, it just seems to be a fact of life in Bulgaria). But you've got to watch it.  It's a really lovely movie.

For my American readers: there are also no excuses. Yep. You too can watch this Bulgarian film.  How? You can get it on <a href="http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_World_is_Big_and_Salvation_Lurks_Around_the_Corner/70127611?strackid=473d609bb09a7f68_0_srl&amp;strkid=2117434933_0_0&amp;lnkctr=srchrd-sr&amp;trkid=222336">NetFlix</a>. Yes, you can watch from the comfort of your own couch--you will <em>have</em> to read subtitles but you will <em>get</em> to hear everyone speak the language I am desperately trying to learn. And you'll get to watch an excellent film.

So back to my demand: watch this movie. Okay maybe it's not really a demand but a strong urging. A really strong one.  Actually, even better than a demand or me urging you, it's this: homework. Watch the movie and think about it.

I mean, it's not like I ask too much from you guys. Basically the only thing I expect is that you read my blog. Oh and every once in a while, if it's not too much work you can leave a comment telling me what you think, giving me some insight or tell me what a good job I am doing. Thus, I think it's a pretty small thing that I am asking of you. Watch the movie.  It's good for you.

Oh and back to my American friends and family, think how cultured (and fancy) you'll sound at an Academy Awards party when you get to discuss the film The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Just Around the Corner. Okay, you may have to work on saying the name of the film a few times. It is kind of mouthful but you can do it.  It's not like you have to say it in Bulgarian.

In the end, this is a movie that you'll be glad you watched. That's that.