harmonia:

Greetings from Seattle friends!

Eleven years ago we filmed my short film harmonia: Last year we finished post production and proceeded to submit it to 26 Film Festivals. Today, we uploaded harmonia: on Substack and on YouTube for you to enjoy!

Children copy the behavior of adults. Rites of passage arise from loss. Art is the behavior of the soul. Make what you will of this boy's journey and don't overthink it...

That is my only advise as you sit down to watch the film.

This is part 1 of 2 blogs on the film. In the next one I will break down the making of harmonia: and answer any questions you may have after watching it.

Three film festivals have yet to make a decision; two accepted it; and twenty one turned it down. We could speculate endlessly why Festivals dismissed the film, but I’m very thankful that Sofia Film Fest in my home country Bulgaria showed it. One reviewer who was at the screening had a very strong reaction to the film berating it. After reading his comment I asked myself: What kind of film would I like to make? One that elicits an outburst of emotions? Or one to which audience members passively shrug their shoulders?

But then, another audience member from the US gave it 10 out of 10 on IMDB.

1/10

“A terrible movie. The worst kind of cinema imaginable. Purposeless, self-centered, talent-less. With the sole aim for the director to play director and then pretend to be misunderstood. No, just because you've put an engine on the table and then have a dull noise in the background, you are not Lynch. You have nothing of the talent, ideas, or anything Lynch. Just your own talent-less self-esteem. Everyone at the SFF hated this movie immediately today, afterwards everyone spoke and wondered one thing: with such obvious resources like money, equipment, sound, picture, even direction, how is it even possible to make such a weak, soulless, meaningless, and stupid movie. And the four arty farts who liked it are not enough to justify that abomination.” - IMDB review

10/10

“Bogdan Darev's Harmonia is a profound and meticulously crafted cinematic exploration that delves into the introspective journey of a child seeking his father. The film employs visual metaphors to reflect the nature of art as an expression of the soul, paralleling the boy's quest with a deeper commentary on artistic creation and personal discovery. The film's visual language reinforces its themes with a poetic and symbolic resonance. The visuals, narrative, performances, and sound design all demonstrate a cohesive and refined artistic vision. It stands out as an exemplary short film, where each component harmoniously contributes to the overall impact and effectiveness of the work.” - IMDB review

You can always leave a review for any of my films here or in the comments here as well as a personal email.

Enjoy and share harmonia: on YouTube. Please cast it on a big screen to get the full experience.

Stay curious! Stay creative!

Bogdan