German Lessons

Urotski Po Nemski

62nd TIFF: Greek Premiere

Nikola’s probation period will end in one day, but he has already arranged his departure from Bulgaria. After living for 25 years in communism and 25 more under false democracy, he can’t take it anymore. His elder parents had divorced in a late stage of their marriage, his children don’t want to see him anymore, so in his fifties, Nikola feels useless and filled with anger. Now he has no choice but to leave everything behind and to start a new chapter in his life. Unfortunately, two days before the departure, the dog of Nikola’s father goes missing. While searching for it, Nikola has to face difficult questions about his own life...

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.
Available at the Agora Market.
Direction: Pavel G. Vesnakov
Script: Pavel G. Vesnakov
Cinematography: Orlin Ruevski
Editing: Victoria Radoslavova
Sound: Svetlozar Georgiev
Actors: Julian Vergov, Vasil Banov, Elena Telbis, Meglena Karalambova, Stefka Yanorova
Production: Moviemento
Producers: Orlin Ruevski, Monica Balcheva
Co-production: Heimathafen Film, Jaegerfilm
Co-producers: Sebastian Weyland, Knut Jäger, Manfred Giesecke
Production Design: Severina Stoyanova
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Bulgaria, Germany
Production Year: 2020
Duration: 100'
Contact: Heimathafen Film

Pavel G. Vesnakov

Pavel G. Vesnakov graduated from the New Bulgarian University in 2011 with a Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts and Film Directing. He is one of the most successful young Bulgarian film directors, known for his provocative ideas and deeply realistic films that explore the degradation of modern Bulgarian society and the relationships between people. He is the screenwriter and director of the short film trilogy Inches of Suburbia. The trilogy was shown at a number of international film festivals such as the Clermont-Ferrand ISFF, the Locarno IFF, the Sarajevo IFF, and many others. He has been awarded more than 30 prestigious awards, including the Grand Prix for Best Film at the Clermont-Ferrand ISFF in France in 2014, and was nominated for the European Film Awards in 2014.

Filmography

2011 Trains (short)
2012 The Paraffin Prince (short)
2013 Pride (short)
2015 Zeus (short)
2019 Chimera (short)
2020 German Lessons
2023 Georgi Gospodinov in Time Shelter (doc)
2024 Windless