The Lesson
Bulgaria, Greece 2014

In a classroom in a small Bulgarian town, a child has stolen some money — which adds yet another big problem to the already troubled life of teacher Nadezhda. As she attempts to uncover the identity of the little thief, she is frantically struggling to deal with the looming foreclosure on her house, and the useless jalopy her unemployed drunk of a husband drained their account to purchase. Nadezhda is an honest, hard-working woman plagued by financial woes. The situation is enough to turn your life upside down. 

This debut fiction feature, from directing duo Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, doggedly follows its heroine as she tries everything to save her family’s home from being gobbled up by the bank. But even though she redoubles her efforts — exhausting her options, and soliciting assistance from shadier and shadier characters — none of her travails bear financial fruit. Where Nadezhda’s quest to evade financial ruin will end up is best discovered for oneself, but, needless to say, hard times harden everyone. Employing a cool, clean, and precise storytelling style, Grozeva and Valchanov maintain a seemingly dispassionate air in the face of their heroine’s escalating desperation, a distance that only increases their story’s emotional impact. 

The Lesson offers a tough, unsentimental education in the limits of honesty when confronted with brutal economic reality. Finalist of the 2015 LUX Prize selection.

Awards
San Sebastian IFF 2014 (Best New Director)
Tokyo IFF 2014 (Special Jury Prize)
Sofia IFF 2015 (Best Bulgarian Feature Film, Grand Prix, Audience Award)
Göteborg FF 2015 (International Debut Award)
Transilvania IFF 2015 (Best Direction, Best Performance)
Luxembourg City FF 2015 (Grand Prix)

In collaboration with