Oldal 457 [457]
Visualizations of “Hooligans”. A Bulgarian Film of the 1960s
version of socialism, which in a totalitarian regime was a political statement. Val¬
chitsata is an evidence of a lyrical humanism, but not an idyllic one. The authors of
the film were attempting to enrich the society by bringing out into the open and
elevating such concepts as freedom, human rights, respect, and hope. The critics of
the film in the 1960s give reason to assume that most of the reviewers supported
the allegorical style of the work. Having in mind films banned by the authorities
because of being classified as “dangerous”, one possible way not to evoke doubts in
the censorious authorities was to emphasize the (political) “benefits” of the movie
for the regime. Therefore cliché phrases were used: “Valchitsata is actually an anti¬
cult [of personality] film; actively fighting for communist morality”. At the same
time the reviewer stresses the crucial critical moments in the film, which the read¬
ers/viewers should analyse and look at in depth; and pointed out that “the idyll of
the literary script is destroyed” (Andreykov 1965: 42).
The film Valchitsata, which was initially based on a true story shows the com¬
plex interplay between art and the reference social reality, between the reference real
and the depicted artistic Other. The film directs attention to the reality of an LES
and offers the viewer possibility to draw a differentiated picture of the hooligans,
their own Other children in 1960s Bulgaria. The film intensifies also the picture
of socialist cinema: a picture in which there was censorship, and self-censorship,
but also auteur cinema, which, according to the words of film director Valchanov,
makes people “remain thoughtful”.*!
Sources
Oliver H. 1963 = Oausep X. 1963. JIumepamypen cyenaputi (‘Literary Script). TsDA E 404, op. 4,
ae. 289. TsDA. Llenrpaacn appoxasen apxus (‘Central State Archive’).
Valchanov R. n.d. = Brauanog P. 6.A. Pexcuceopcku cuenapuü (Film Director Script). TsDA E. 404,
op. 4, ae. 289a. TsDA. Llenrpaacu app2kasen apxu (‘Central State Archive’).
TsDA F. 404, op. 4, ac. 290, Bonuuyama-Oocue (‘Valchitsata— Dossier’). TsDA. Llenrpaacn ABpxascH
apxus ("Central State Archive’).
TsDA E 1283, op. 1, a.e. 3. Ifenmpanna komucua sa 6op6a c npomusooÖujecmeenume npoasu Ha
ManonemHu u nensnnonemnu. 1961-1973 (‘Central Commission for Combating the Antisocial
Acts of Minors. 1961-1973’). TsDA. Llexrpaacx ABpxasex apxu (“Central State Archive’).
DA Pernik, E 705, op. 1, ae. 1. TBY, Bpana cmena. IIpomoxoana kuuea (‘LES, Vranya Stena. Protocols’).
DA Pernik. Appxasex apxus Ilepaux (Pernik State Archive’).
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Plans, Reports, Informations”). DA Pernik. Aspxasen apxus IIepnux (‘Pernik State Archive’).
DA Pernik, E 1017, op. 1, ae. 1-20. Apxue M. Tpenuapoe (Archiv M. Grancharov). DA Pernik.
Appxxasen apxus [leprux (‘Pernik State Archive’).
1 Valchanov, TsDA F. 404, op. 4, ae. 290: 50.
455