The Good Postman (Hyvä postimies)
Directed by Tonislav Hristov
Bulgaria | 2016 | Documentary | 80 min | Bulgarian w/English subtitles
Film Source: Film Rise
Co-Sponsors: VT Council on World Affairs, Nick and Bridget Downey-Meyer
Also showing Wednesday, October 25 at 2:15PM
A small village in Bulgaria sets the stage for a story that will feel somehow familiar. Elderly postman Ivan decides to run for mayor of his tiny village (he’s one of only a few dozen, mostly elderly residents). Dealing with issues of refugee resettlement, Ivan sees a path to the future in welcoming refugees to restore vitality. His opponents want to close borders and reintroduce communism, returning to the “glory days”. Director Tonislav Hristov’s direct-cinema approach holds up a cultural mirror — its central set piece is a village that could be Anytown, USA. It’s a place preoccupied by poverty, economic stagnation and fear of the unknown, whose people feel powerless and unheard by the government. The Good Postman is a fascinating study in character and place, often sweet and humorous and always poignant. It offers viewers a chance to witness a culture in a far-off land that is not too dissimilar from their own backyard. ~EF
