Introduction

Some money is stolen from an elementary school classroom. The teacher repeatedly urges the student who took it to come forward, but no one ever does. When she returns home, she discovers that her husband has amassed a great deal of debt that she will have to pay back. This tense drama turns on the irony that a woman beset by financial woes is trying to teach children the morals of money. Having so thoroughly mastered the technique of creating realistic suspense, it is hard to believe that this is Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov’s debut feature. While on the one hand a story about a teacher’s misfortunes, the film is also informed by universal concerns such as the contradictions contained in a society that is ultimately ruled by economic demands. This work marks the emergence of a new and promising directorial duo who excel at depicting the unexpected twists that can occur in the course of everyday life.