Kristina Nikolova: In Hell With Ivo
Jury Special Award at the Sarajevo FF.
And a text taken from the press kit of the best publicist I know, Greek Dimitra Kouzi:
“Bulgarian queer artist and songwriter Ivo Dimchev transforms personal and social hardship into provocative public and intimate private spectacles, boldly exploring sexuality, identity,
faith, and activism in a liberating celebration of queer visibility.”
Ivo is a brilliant singer and performer and the film goes with him to public concerts and to so-called home concerts. Have to confess that I was not hooked by the film but for the end scene, where he is doing his music at home with his parents, asking them questions after a poetic song that obviously moves the parents, at least the mother. There is intimacy and tenderness in that scene. The parents will go to heaven with Trump, Ivo wants to go with Jesus to Hell; he is Christian and he wants to go, where all his friends are. The parents think Trump is generous. You sense Ivo has had a hard childhood, what is the worst, physical or mental abuse, he asks. Mother says physical, father says mental…
Bulgaria, USA, 78 mins.
