petya_1984 Review of Bay Ganyo tragna po Evropa

Bay Ganyo tragna po Evropa (1991)

A comedy or the drama of a whole nation

[10/10 · 10 May 2005]

Bai Ganio is a typical Bulgarian trader from the end of th 19th century - greedy, a little bit simpleton, but always trying to "get the benefit". His traveling around Europe is made only to allows him to get more money from "the rich and foolish Europeans". ***SPOILERS*** The whole film is based on the Bai Ganio's rural behavior. There's memorable scenes such as the ones at the bathroom and the home of Konstanin Irechek. Everybody sees that Bai Ganio is simpleton and is very bumptious. The only one who doesn't understand that is Bai Ganio himself. Bai Ganio is a symbol of the whole Bulgarian's "elite" of the 19th century. That's why this brilliant comedy is in fact a way to show the decay of the Bulgarian's nation. Aleko Konstantinov is probably the best satirist in the Bulgarian literature of the past two centuries. He always tried to show the real mentality of the Bulgarians. Of course, character as Bai Ganio are strongly exaggerated. But the main idea unfortunately remains the same - there always will be someone who thinks only about the profits and benefits.