Dimitar Stratev

Hitar Petar escapes every hard time the life gives him by using his quick mind.

The three grotesque novels whose action takes place at different times of the recent past are united by a common thematic key – their protest against violence and militarism, expressed by means of a kind of absurd humor.

In a large provincial town, two friends Nasko and Raycho meet Emil, a conductor in the opera, who introduces them to Ana, an opera singer. Nasko and Ana fall in love. Nasko has to write a story for the newspaper about the irregular enrollment in college of Aneliya, the daughter of the local bigwig. A well-known director arrives from the capital for an opera premiere and makes advances to Ana. Aneliya comes to demand an explanation in Nasko's home. Ana finds her there and decides to take her revenge on him. She becomes intimate with the director. The story about the Aneliya case is ready, but as desk editor is drunk, Nasko fakes his OK signature. He sham is discovered. The relationships between the erstwhile friends are marred by insincerity, falsehood, tacit intrigues. Nasko plucks up courage to tell his friends the truth. In this way, he wins back Ana's love and he boy's trust.

Venice Film Festival 1955