Liuben *** (2023, Dimitar Nikolov, Bojidar Iankov Asenov, Dimitar Banenkin, David de Gea, Stefan Denolyubov, Ramón Esquinas, Stoyan Radev, Antonia San Juan) – Classic Movie Review 13,249

Dimitar Nikolov stars in the intense 2023 romantic drama Liuben as Victor, who returns from Spain to his childhood home in Bulgaria and unexpectedly finds love with the charismatic Liuben (Bojidar Asenov).

Dimitar Nikolov stars in writer/ director: Venci Kostov’s intense 2023 romantic drama Liuben as 20-something Victor, who returns from Spain to his childhood home in Bulgaria for his grandfather’s funeral after a 12-year gap, and decides to stay with his long-estranged father for the summer.

While trying vaguely to reconnect with his grim and gloomy father and the village’s dying way of life, he unexpectedly finds love with the charismatic Liuben (Bojidar Iankov Asenov), a wild and unpredictable 18-year-old Roma boy. Despite their differences, and the conflicts arising, a real connection is made, and a love story starts up. But the differences and the conflicts soon turn out to be incredibly formidable, and Victor and Liuben find they are living dangerously.

Liuben is a complex, difficult, rather challenging film, tackling a wide range of important issues, as well as following the course of the passionate but impossible central relationship. It is quite moving and also depressing at the same time. Like the hero, the film is quite withdrawn, uncommunicative and chilly, yet determinedly pulls you over onto its side by its sincerity and honesty.

The fascinating, unusual characters of Victor and Liuben, the appealing talented actors playing them, and the film itself are entirely winning. Director Venci Kostov’s screenplay is careful and expert, and so is his handling of this significant film.

Director: Venci Kostov

Writer: Venci Kostov

Genre: Drama, Romance.

It premiered in Spain on 6 June 2023.

It screens in November 2024 at the UK One Fluid Night (OFN) LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.

Cast: Dimitar Nikolov, Bojidar Iankov Asenov, Dimitar Banenkin, David de Gea, Stefan Denolyubov, Ramón Esquinas, Stoyan Radev, Antonia San Juan.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,249

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