Phi 1.618 (2022) User Reviews

Yazuk for the high quality visuals

[iliyasilievpz · 4/10 · 13 December 2022]

I am very impressed with the video quality as for Bulgaria standards it is quite good. I like the old school grain look. The animation cutscenes are also very good. The background work on some scenes where you composited a different landscape it is just too obvious that it ia fake and more effort could have been put into that... Overall, well done go the team that handled this part.

On acting side, the main characters were very dull. I personaly don't like how most bulgarian actors handle their roles as they have 0 emotions. The only thing thay they are somewhat good at is drama. Seems like they are more used to traditional theater acting which is not a bad thing but in movies there should be a different approach. I can't really blame them 100% as the script is quite terrible. I don't think that you should copy the book word for word. There should be some added interest.

The plot was very dull and easy going like a child's movie. There was no plot twist everything was straight forward. The guy that gives 'em a ride was meaningless to the story both times he appeared. The villains did a bettter job than the main characters in terms of acting and being humans with emotions and reactions. Even the weird psycho with the bomb and the geh flamingo guy did a better job.

I think that for some of the VFX (mainly background compositing) you could have hired someone from Fiverr that would do a better job (4real dudes). Also, please start sourcing new talents as we are fed up with these actors that have inherited their place in acting... There are so many undiscovered talents out there... Find better script writers too as this poetry class type writing is just awful if you want your movies to attract wider audience. Even if your target is poetry lovers it still sucks big time... Like why do you portray the main character as a 33 yr old while he looks like 60...?

I am very disappointed as I expected more but still it is a step in the right direction. Just get fresh actors and better script writers...

Incoherent, pretentious babble

[mirthanton · 1/10 · 30 November 2022]

Unfortunately, all cinematic aspirations of this film fall flat. What we have is an unconvincing cobbled-together world, an uninspiring and simplistic storyline, and ham-fisted dialogue.

There is symbolism and pop culture references gratuitously sprinkled throughout the film, that do little to make this even remotely watchable. All actors look uncomfortable and deliver their lines with the pathos of a first-year student in Theatre school.

The scenery and some of the locations in a few scenes look promising, but they are butchered by the editing and the emptiness that fills most of the film.

The only reason to watch this film is Ivo Dimchev's one-minute appearance.

Visually superb

[whotheff · 7/10 · 29 November 2022]

If you want to see a heavily surrealistic, beautifully shot, Terry Guilliamish movie with incredibly well selected scenery, props and characters, see this one. What I did not like was the majority of sound was on the left channel only. Story was a bit too far fetched and there were some inconsistencies of the world Ushev was trying to convince us in. Main strength is the symbolism, starting from beginning and ending in the last frame. Since there is no more communist regime in Bulgaria, the story could be more clear and not have to be hidden as in Kin-Dza-Dza. In my eyes Phi 1618 is quite similar to Brazil and... Star Wars, mashed up togehter!

TRUE REVIEW

[hyperintelligentanimefan · 10/10 · 14 October 2022]

Uh, Actually, I don't foresee the masses to get the heterogeneous lore and intriguing plot line of this incredible masterpiece. The main cast surprised me with their labyrinthine nature and philosophical themes inter-layered within their essence. It's truly baffling how silly the audience could be to rate this tour de force of a movie below the fair rating of 10 stars. The scenery in this post-apocalyptic wasteland paired with virtuosic cinematography and the hair-raising brutalistic animation enumerates this film not only as a jewel amongst modern cinema trash, but also as a cultural monument in Bulgarian society. You all should be ashamed of your low life opinions and so called "critical" "thinking".

• With passion,

THIAF.

Touching postmodern film

[boris367 · 10/10 · 18 December 2022]

I don't believe writing this. I really dislike the bulgarian cinema. Having watched almost all of the recent bulgarian films, i developed like an alergic reaction to the bulgarian cinema. All depressing, social realist stories. But this one is something else. Full with fantasy, great artistry, wonderful cast. Martina Apostolova is an amazing actress, deserving a world-wide recognition. Vasil Duev, Nikolay Stanoev are making a great debut in this film. A trully cinematographic experience, destined to stay into the history of bulgarian cinema. 10 stars are just everything that this film deserves.

A cult film

[krapp_film · 10/10 · 17 December 2022]

This movie has an inexplicable charm. If You thought that the steam-punk has reached his limits, watch this one; it cares all the great elements of a the genre, but ads a hint of artistic fresco. Every frame is like a painting, every stage is thoroughly crafted, as a Renaissance painting of beaty and harmony.

The most discussed film in Bulgaria in 2022, it is greatly achieved fable of ironical and grotesque state of the post-communist countries and post-totalitarian societies. Even the "light" script and dramaturgy works well here - You don't need it, and as soon as you forget it, You just dive inte the charm of the film.

Great cast, especially Martina Apostolova and Vasil Duev are doing something really special in this film. Great, cult film!

a tour de force

[dessi78 · 10/10 · 18 December 2022]

The film is a great achievemnt for the bulgarian cinema. Example of such a masterly executed craftmanship are rare for the bulgarian film industry. The camera, the decors, the acting, the costumes, the editing, the timing, the execution, everything works in this film. Even the week script helps for better enjoying this film charming appeal. Stirring a huge controverses in Bulgaria, being attacked by the both pro-Putin and alt-right nacionalist circles, also by anti-LGBTQ fascist activists, because of Ivo Dimchev and Martina Apostolova participstion, the film became an important cultural event in Bulgaria.