Review of Kaloyan

For me Kaloyan is a greatly underestimated achievement of Bulgarian cinema, perhaps because its generation could not appreciate its advantages - one expects to see just a war movie that shows how great this Bulgarian tzar was (and he certainly was). However this movie is not just a lesson in History - it makes you be Kaloyan, feel his emotions, think the way he thinks. His character is realistic as well - equally fair and brutal, which a real leader had to be. The story is complex and dynamic as it also features minor characters (in terms of history); the music is suitable and the battle scenes are well made. Its atmosphere is certainly memorable.

I consider the film as obligatory for Bulgarian movie fans; personally I prefer it to Aszparuh.