Soul Food Stories

Description

Muslim, Christian, Roma and atheist Communists live together peacefully now in Satovcha, a Bulgarian village of 2,000 people. They have differing theologies and political opinions, yet what unites them is a love of food and a respect for the land that nurtures their families. The history of their village is rich and fraught with the legacy of World War II and decades of bureaucratic Communism; director Tonislav Hristov documents the lively political arguments that seven of the older men have regularly at the local social club. But ultimately it is the eternal mystery that women and men present to each other that Hristov focuses on with a delightful and perspicacious view. When some of the women want to increase the number of days that women can use the pensioners’ social club from one day to two, Hristov captures the reactions of both the men and women with a playfully wry sense of humor and a keen understanding of the social structure of this bucolic community. Beautifully shot, the film unfolds like a simple but sumptuous 10-course meal, with observations on food preparation and religious diversity generously laced into the recipes. –Nancy Fishman

With short: Little Block of Cement with Disheveled Hair Containing the Sea This paean to a horse and a dog running free together on an abandoned farm in the Chimborazo province of Ecuador delivers gorgeous cinematography and arresting images, photographed in black and white. (dir. Jorge López Navarrete, Spain, 16 min) This film is competing for a Golden Gate Award.

Film Details