Customer Reviews

Bulgarian Lovers - Unrated Edition

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this film totally satisfying and enjoyable. As a comedy, some will find its tragic themes not truly -- meaning painfully - dealt with.
A gay, middle aged "respectable" and politically well connected Spanish "consultant" falls in love with a virile Bulgarian immigrant, and soon falls in with his lover's shady company. The older man seems to wish to escape his trivial emotional life and "queenie" friends; crime feels "real" to him. He wants his love of Kyril to overpower all other reality, even if Kyril cannot love him. He becomes "completely" Bulgarian, and goes to Kyril's wedding in Bulgaria, where he rejects seduction by Kyril's handsome younger male cousin.
The actors and the acting are attractive. The story is fast-paced and complicated, and tautly directed. There is much to look at, and to think about.
I have not been able to convey the film's wonderful comic spirit, as I have focused on its "deeper" themes. Regardless, this is a sweet comedy about true love.

Smart, witty and endlessly sly, Eloy de la Iglesia's Bulgarian Lovers is lots of extraordinary and unexpected fun. With its themes of love, money, and what we do for lust, the film takes the viewer on an almost surreal journey through the life of the loveable Daniel (Fernando Guillén Cuervo), a wealthy, spoilt, middle-aged, but attractive businessman who falls for Kyril (Dritan Biba), a hunky, muscular, sexy Bulgarian. Daniel is a well-adjusted gay guy who frequents the Madrid party scene surrounding himself with a bunch of fluttery gay men who constantly camp it up, swoon over the Bulgarian hunks, and chatter incessantly about their latest boyfriends.

Kyril is looking for a wealthy sugar daddy to look after him, someone who can shower him with money and presents while also "fixing his papers" so that he can stay in the country. He sets his sights on Daniel and after having a night of all-consuming passion, where they share lots of hot, sweaty, and brutal sex, Daniel becomes hooked regardless of the fact that Kyril confesses that he has a fiancé. None of Kyril's apparent shortcomings seem to bother Daniel, who - while intermittently addressing the camera with a cunning, self-knowing little smirk - readily invites the Bulgarian into his life.

Kyril is obviously hiding something. And Daniel progressively begins to get suspicious when Kyril keeps asking for more money. Soon Daniel is forced to have surreptitious dealings with Eastern European mobsters and is asked to store a suspicious-looking black bag in his apartment (he's far too afraid to examine its contents in case he ruins his romantic sojourn). Daniel's emotionally masochistic tendencies become even more outlandish when he allows Kyril's beautiful fiancée, Kalina (Anita Sinkovic), to stay, and even accompanies them to Sofia for their wedding while also paying for their trip.

Daniel's obsession with Kyril lands him in all sorts of bother. Throughout the film he ruminates on the price that one must pay for love (and lust); he's part hard-core masochist and impossible romantic, who is absolutely besotted with a man who, simply put, is a selfish opportunist who is merely out to make a quick buck by hook or crook, which includes robbery and smuggling. But the twist is that Daniel is far from the exploited, subjugated waif; he willingly chases after other boys, recklessly aids and abets his live-in stud, and even admits - to his friends and the viewers - that he does it because he can afford it, and faced with man like Kyril, who wouldn't want to do it?

The performances are excellent and totally believable. The romantic and sexual encounters between Daniel and Kyril - which include full frontal nudity - are far more realistic and credible than anything seen in American film, gay or straight. The movie cleverly and without being overly preachy, examines the often-distraught interplay of sex, power and money with a breezy, almost comical attitude. There's also a fine sense of social detail, which cleverly examines the sometimes-uneasy communal relationship that has arisen between the older generation of Spanish and the newer European immigrants. But the film is mostly worth watching for Dritan Biba whom, as Kyril, absolutely smolders on screen - his sexual charisma and magnetism is undeniable and most viewers will probably completely understand why Daniel becomes incessantly besotted with him. Mike Leonard March 05.

Based on a popular, but not very good, Spanish novel, this film tells the story of a Spanish middle-aged man's relationship with a hunky Bulgarian who's after his money and has a blonde girlfriend/wife. Unfortunately, the film is not as smart or witty as its makers seem to think it is. The filmmakers didn't seem to have a clear idea of what they wanted to do: a dark comedy, a sex romp, a witty commentary on Spanish gay male culture, a humorous gay melodrama a la Almodovar. Instead, you get a little bit of everything and most of it is not done particularly well.
Still, the two leads are attractive in their own ways, the plot, while preposterous and unnecessarily convoluted, is amusing, and there's more male frontal nudity than Americans are used to (although the film is far from being as graphic as the cover suggests and the few sex scenes are quite tame). And the stereotypes of the queeny middle-aged men and the hunky foreigners, while somewhat crude and even potentially offensive, are actually quite refreshing when compared to the boringly PC American gay movies.

BULGARIAN LOVERS, as a title, is a misnomer. Based on the successful novel by Eduardo Mendicutti and developed into a screenplay by director Eloy de la Iglesia and star actor Fernando Guillen Cuervo, this story is a combination of successful tales from many movies that in this particular film simply doesn't work.

Daniel (Fernando Guillen Cuervo) is a successful, closeted gay architect in Madrid whose only concession to his sexuality is his membership in a group of outrageous queens who stage underground parties, looking for love in all the wrong places. An influx of Eastern European men into Madrid looking for jobs and money to send home includes a group of hunky Bulgarians who offer meaningless sex to the queens in return for money. Daniel attaches himself to one of these handsome but shady characters Kyril (Dritan Biba) and soon is supplying Kyril with a roof over his/their head, money, gifts, and involvement in Kyril's criminal activities all in return for passionate sex.

The story of course is all about what we will do for 'love', and we can see from the beginning that Daniel will cross all barriers - even accompanying Kyril to Bulgaria for his marriage to his girlfriend Kalina (Anita Sinkovic) and the subsequent involvement with Kyril's mob activities. How Daniel extricates himself from Kyril's sexual hold and finds his way back to Madrid forms the caper-like plot that completes the movie.

Though there are some interesting moments - and a lot of flaunting frontal male nudity from a cast worth observing - the film unfortunately falls into too many clichés: Daniel's friends are all over-the-top queens, there is the obligatory Kyril/Kalina straight love scene act, Daniel's motivation for his endlessly malinformed behavior goes beyond the quest for 'finding love', the ending is a starting all over again with Kyril's cousin coming on to Daniel...

Cuervo (memorable for his roles in 'Talk to Her' and 'The Greek Labyrinth', etc) does his best with a weak script, but then he DID co-write it. Not a bad film, but one that certainly could have been better with some judicious editing and less lingering over the obvious.

A film noir in lgbt disguise, this movie puts together the appropriate elements--rueful narrator, love betrayed, clues to the conclusion--in fast-paced and clever manner. I found myself laughing out loud; the film deserves several viewings. Why the opening cigarette lighter? Why details as to nodding one's head for 'no'? Close watching will tell in this tight and taut, elegant Euro-mystery. While the in-jokes may be most available to those who understand Spanish, the naked stud can be enjoyed by all. If you like Hitchcock's classic, Strangers on a Train, this neo-noir will pick you up and leave you laughing, hitting the play button once again.

Eloy de la Iglesia returns behind the camera after more than a decade to direct this 2002 flick "Bulgarian Lovers." It is a Spanish production, despite the title, and follows a love triangle with Daniel played by Fernando Guillen Cuervo as a mild mannered attorney who cruises gay bars and picks up the hungry Kyril played by Dritan Biba. Kyril speaks about his fiancee back in Bulgaria and is easily able to split his gay relationship with Daniel who enables him to survive and acquire legal residency papers to his loyalties to his fiancee. The picture heats up, as the thugs Kyril hangs out with appear to be either drug dealers or terrorists. Kyril utilizes Daniel as one of his resources. Daniel assists in bringing Kyril's fiancee to Spain and then accompanies him back for his marriage in Bulgaria. While the obvious sensational elements of nudity are there, the film surpasses that by being an interesting character study on the what necessity forces individuals to do and how love and loyalty must sometimes be compromised for the sake of survival. It is an interesting film, but certainly not for the straightlaced! Enjoy!

In contrary to other spanish gay theme movies, "Bulgarian lovers" will not find its place in my dvdteque. I enjoyed it less than, for example, "Bear cub" or hilarious "Chef's special" (not to mention some Almodovar's works). And I ain't going watch it again.
It is not a piece of bad cinema, don't get me wrong. I am pretty sure a lot will regard it as a funny and witty movie. But to me the plot seemed noting special, thus my rating is just O.K.

There are lots of movies about women making bad decisions about "bad boys". I found this approach totally believable and totally enjoyable. Based on a popular book, director Eloy de la Iglesia was coaxed out of retirement, creating a fun romp, with romance, intrigue and a validation of life as it may exist. Fernando Guillen Cuervo is a dead ringer for Scott Lowell (Ted, in the US Queer as Folk). He's adorable and completely likeable. The "rogue" Bulgarian, Kyril, is also adorable, played by Dritan Biba. These two take the story away, with the usual doubts, as well as political and criminal intrigue, staying fond of each other to the end. What's not to like? It's a somewhat traditional love story, taken to a different level. If you can get over the excessive full-frontal nudity of Mr. Biba, you may enjoy this film for the sweet story that it is.

Oh yes!!! belive me, you will love this movie. nice story line, good acting and if you like nudity (and we know you do) you will like this movie

THIS FILM IS PRESENTED IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES. I HAD TO WATCH IT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE GAINING SOME TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING. THIS FILM IS BASED ON EDUARDO MENDICUTTI'S NOVEL, "Los Novios Bulgaros" ["Bulgarian Lovers"]. QUITE HANDSOME "Daniel" IS A SPANISH ATTORNEY WHO FALLS IN LOVE WITH "Kyril" - A BULGARIAN MOBSTER. "Kyril" TELLS "Daniel" HE IS A BULGARIAN IMMIGRANT IN NEED OF SPANISH CITIZENSHIP. AS HIS LOVE GROWS DEEPER, "Daniel" BELIEVES "Kyril's" LIES; HE SEEMS TO MISINTERPERATE THE EVENTS AROUND HIM - "Kyril's" HAND RASH/IRRITATED EYES AND "INJURY" REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. THE TRUTH IS, "Kyril" DEALS IN THE "BLACK-MARKET" SALE OF URANIUM. HIS HAND RASH AND IRRITATED EYES ARE DUE TO EXPOSURE TO URANIUM; HIS "INJURY" WAS A MOB "BEAT-DOWN." AFTER "Kyril's" HOSPITAL RELEASE, "Daniel" CARRIES HIM HOME TO SOFIA [BULGARIA]. WHILE THERE, "Kyril" MARRIES HIS GIRLFRIEND, "Kalina." "Daniel" IS NOT DETERRED; HIS LOVE FOR "Kyril" SEEMS STRONGER. AFTER "Kyril's" IMPRISONMENT FOR COCAINE POSSESSION, "Daniel" OBTAINS HIS RELEASE BY DELIVERING A URANIUM DEPOSIT TO THE BULGARIAN MOB. AFTER HIS RELEASE, "Kyril" SAYS HIS FINAL GOODBYE TO "Daniel." [THIS FILM CONTAINS SOME HIGHLY HOMOEROTIC SCENES; THESE SCENES INCLUDE EXTENSIVE-FRONTAL-MALE NUDITY AND EXPLICIT HOMOEROTIC IMAGERY]. THE USE OF "BLACK-MARKET" URANIUM AS A SUBPLOT IS SILLY. THIS IS AN ORDINARY- AND UNREQUITED-MALE-LOVE STORY.