Glory (2016) User Reviews

First rate black comedy

[barkingechoacrosswaves · 9/10 · 25 April 2017]

This is a very skillfully made and incisive movie. Part parable, part satire, it follows the struggles of a very poor man who tries to do the right thing and then gets coldly manipulated and abused by multiple levels of a corrupt system as a "reward" for his honesty.

The story is both painful and quite funny to watch as railroad lineman Tzanko has his life upended by the machinations of a rapaciously ambitious PR demon named Julia and her squad of incompetent flunkies. The two main actors are superb in their starkly different, yet completely interdependent, roles, and the supporting cast members do a fine job portraying a motley crew of hoodlums, cowards, bureaucrats and other assorted scum.

The camera-work is very good -- it's mostly hand-held and the carefully modulated restlessness perfectly complements the edgy narrative. The editing is brilliant... somehow it lends an understated note to a story that, less deftly handled, would be too obvious, too blunt.

I almost didn't get to see this movie and feel very happy I did. It reminds me another excellent recent release, "Toni Erdmann," except that the behavior on display here is even worse and the stakes are much higher. Do yourself a favor and see "Glory."

Excellent

[mortsdominguez · 9/10 · 26 July 2017]

Astonishing low budget film. One by one, it is able to show the weakness of the different powers, from politics to press, and how greed pushes the to take shortcuts, that obviously carry victims.

The plot, although original is quite simple, however it serves to its purpose, elaborate this accurate picture from Bulgarian politics, press, gangsters, middle and working class. Every of it showed through the eyes of a man, whom despite of his awful economic situation, has never lost his naive glance. Educative story from the hand of poetic pictures, in which the UE is commonly involved in a second plan.

Outstanding political and personal drama from Bulgaria

[paul-allaer · 8/10 · 2 April 2018]

"Glory" (2016 release from Bulgaria; 101 min.) brings the story of Tsanko. As the movie opens, Tsanko is inspecting the train tracks and along the way he falls upon a huge amount of cash laying on the tracks. He calls the police to report it. Meanwhile the Transport Ministry PR team jumps into action, eager to create a diversion from the steady stream of bad news the Ministry has been suffering. Tsanko, who has a bad stutter in his speech, is invited to Sofia by the Ministry to collect an award (a watch). At the last second, the PR manager takes off his current watch, a nice "Glory" engraved by his dad "To my son Tsanko". In the chaos of the award ceremony and subsequent reception, Tsanko doesn't get back his heirloom, so the next day he s desperate to reclaim his watch. Will he be able to retrieve it? To tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from co-writers and co-directors Kristina Grozave and Petar Valchanov, who previoulsy brought us "The Lesson". Here they create chilling, even Capra-reminding, movie about how one innocent person can become the object of a machnery (be it the state, the journalists, you name it), and the devastating effects it can cause. Stefan Denolvubov's performance as Tsanko will break your heart. All he wants is to get his old watch back, possibly the most precious of his (few) possessions. Margita Gosheva as the calculating Ministry PR manager is equally impressive, but of course hers is a very unlikable role. I must admit that in the initial third of the move, I was wondering where all if this was going. If you also start worrying, I can rest assure you that the last 45 min. of the movie will leave you astonished (I shan't say more!).

I don't think this movie ever got a US theatrical release, but thankfully Film Movement picked it up as part of its Movie of the Month Club releases, and that is how I finally got to see this. If you are in the mood for a top-notch foreign movie that takes a sharp look at the innocence of one person coming in direct conflict with a larger political machinery that will leave you shaking your head in despair, I strongly suggest that you seek out "Glory". I'm quite certain that you will agree.

Pure and excellent satire

[frantastika · 10/10 · 24 February 2017]

I saw this film at the VIFF 2016 (Vancouver International Film Festival) without knowing much about it. The film was a pleasure from beginning to end. The story is simple but the actors Margita Goshen and Stefan Denolyubov are perfect for delivering this dark and poignant film. There are many comments about our society that anyone can relate to: corruption, media, abuse of power, etc... But what really makes the film fantastic is the ending, not for everybody's taste but it is exactly that which makes it unique. I am looking forward to see more films from these filmmakers.

The Power and The Glory....Amen!

[bobbygmt · 9/10 · 30 January 2018]

After nearly half a century under Communist regime, countries of the former Soviet Union Block find themselves in a terrifying moral limbo: concepts such as self-worth, civic duty, integrity and compassion have been systematically eradicated in the name of Party Rule to a point where a simple act of honesty can be met with derision and disbelief.

New forces now shape the daily lives of people and their effect is most ugly to behold. Servility coupled with arrogance, total absence of empathy, corrupt practices and disdain for the rule of law or the fellow human being - these are the themes so aptly explored in this cinematic gem from Bulgaria.

The two leads are superbly cast and acted, juxtaposing old versus new morality. The story itself unfolds in the style of a Greek fable and it is this very simplicity, delivered with no frills, that packs a considerable moral punch. Don't miss!

Very Dark Gallows Humor & Satire

[larrys3 · 6/10 · 18 September 2017]

The same filmmakers that brought to the screen the terrific 2014 Bulgarian film "The Lesson" bring us this very dark film, filled with gallows humor and satire. Once again, Margita Gosheva gives an amazing performance here, and I regard her as just an incredible actress.

However, her portrayal and the unrelenting dark aspects of the movie kept me incensed throughout, as an intensely shy, stuttering, and honest railway worker (Stefan Denolyubov) is humiliated and manipulated not only by Gosheva but by the Bulgarian Transport Ministry, and an investigative journalist as well.

All I guess this means is that the film was presented so well that I reacted quite viscerally to it all, as it touched more than one nerve in me. Therefore, it proved not to be my ideal idea of an evening's entertainment. I only wish the implied ending was actually shown, as I would have loved to have seen it.

No good deed goes unpunished

[Red-125 · 9/10 · 22 July 2020]

Slava (2016) is a Bulgarian film shown in the U.S. with the translated title Glory. It was co-written and co-directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov.

The movie stars Stefan Denolyubov as Tzanko Petrov. Tzanko is a low-level rail worker. He stumbles upon a huge amount of cash, and honorably turns it over to the state railway.

That's when his problem starts. The railway ministry is under attack because of the "carriage problem," and also the theft of diesel oil by its employees. The good news about an honest workman is just what they need to put a positive light on their agency.

That's where Julia Staykova comes in. (Portrayed superbly by Margita Gosheva.) Staykova is head of railway public relations. She seizes upon this opportunity to use Tzanko to advance the agency and her own career. What happens to him is not her concern.

Actually, Tzanko is the harder part. He's a humble man with a serious speech defect. He doesn't want to be a hero, and he's uncomfortable about being pulled out of his quiet existence. Denolyubov portrays him very well.

Although the part of Tzanko is harder, this is really Staykova's movie. She knows everyone, cares about no one, and does whatever it takes to accomplish what she wants. Her personal life keeps getting in the way of her work. (Of course, you could reverse this sentence, but I wrote it they way I think Staykova would look at it.)

Margita Gosheva, who plays Staykova, is a famous actor in Bulgaria. She's extremely talented, and she makes the movie work.

This film worked well on the small screen. It has a strong IMDb rating of 7.6. I thought it was better than that, and rated it 9.

An honest look into the Balkans

[lazarid · 7/10 · 9 March 2017]

It is a low budget film. With obviously restricted means of production, the filmmakers managed to describe accurately the main aspects of the everyday life in the region. The story nicely depicted the pathology of the political and social system which prevails in the Balkans and not only in Bulgaria. To my mind, the references to the European Union were excellent and clearly made the point that the idea of a united Europe is an illusion. The basic characteristics of the social attitudes and human relationships in the given environment were very well presented. The acting was convincing, but the camera work was not so good. Maybe the film will not be so appealing to audiences used to watching Hollywood super productions or audiences looking for ways to escape into an ideal imagined world. But it is a direct, honest, true and plain approach to a very interesting way of life in a very interesting part of the globe, where people struggle to improve the quality of their lives, preserving at the same time their traditional values. The impact of the above contradiction is nicely emphasized in the film.

unexpected termination

[mguam_ · 8/10 · 4 June 2018]

The movie its story, at first glance, may seem simple but with the passing of time we learned just how complex it really was, reveals the reality in the modern world. you will like it, I recommend it to you.

No Good Deed Ever Goes Unpunished

[Minnesota_Reid · 6/10 · 30 April 2017]

This is a movie about a simple, honest man who gets caught up in and ground up by PR hype, investigative journalism, politics, corruption, and, in general, the modern world of which he is not really a part.

I won't recount the plot, but for me, things took a fairly predictable path from start to finish. That's not a bad thing, but it's nice to have a few surprises.

The two main characters are well acted.

Bleak, and funny

[neilahunter · 9/10 · 16 August 2018]

Shades of Billy Wilder, Milos Forman and the Coen Brothers (he just wants his watch back) sit lightly on this meticulously-plotted and wittily-shot film. The joy is in the detail: the watch, the minister's shoes, the trouser-exchange. It's a film with a lot to say, but it keeps its gaze at the human level.

When Government is Corruption

[wickedmikehampton · 6/10 · 16 December 2020]

The beginning of Bulgaria's 'Glory' has a simple railway employee on minimum wage getting ready for work as TV news tells of Government corruption regarding the railways.

Our 'hero' tightens bolts that fasten the tracks to the sleepers. He discovers a huge amount of cash but hands it in. The Government decides to make his honesty into a PR stunt to distract from their corruption crisis. At the ceremony, they are indifferent to him, and take his watch off so that they can 'award' him a watch on camera. The movie is about what happens as he tries to get his watch back.

It reminded me of Russian movies 'The Fool' and 'Leviathan'. Not the same dark tone but its comfortable within the theme of everyday people brushing with criminal government. And I loved the final 30 seconds!

Dark Humour at it's finest

[zalapatax · 10/10 · 8 March 2018]

I had a good vibe from the start with this film. The idea of a poor worker finding money returning it and having his life turned upside down because of it. One has to wonder if someone who is honest, truly has a place in this world these days. It has every ingredient needed for a perfect satire, politics, corruption, the media and of course collateral damage.

It is as hilarious as it is cruel and while it may tell a story originating from Bulgaria, one does also wonder how different the country we live in really is.

Two directors I will follow very closely.

A hidden gem from Bulgaria!!!

[FilmFlowCritics · 8/10 · 21 November 2017]

Picture yourself walking by the train tracks and finding a hell of a lot of money, what would you do?

Glory tells the gripping and depressing story of Tzanko Petrov who exactly has this "luck". I actually don't want to say much more about this movie. You will join a journey, that goes left and right all the time, it's moving and unsettling, so get your seat belts on and prepare for a bumpy ride.

Only little criticism...I don't want to spoil anything, but the ending could have gone either way and I think the wrong one was picked, which surprisingly doesn't hurt the movie much. Still an extraordinary piece of work!

Universal theme, humor and poignancy

[Lennie_G · 9/10 · 23 March 2023]

This 2016 satirical movie is both poignant and outrageous. It follows a chronic stutterer who is beset by tormentors from a self interested and corrupt transportation agency in Bulgaria. His abuse at the hands of selfish and vindictive managers and politicians is both laughable and exasperating, frustrating the viewer and the protagonist. But there are funny scenes showing the absurdness of bureaucracy against the vulnerable. The plot is original and compelling and not one that most Americans are likely to see without an extended search. But this one is worth that search. It has universal themes and appeal.