Summary
Set against the volatile backdrop of the 1913 Second Balkan War, this narrative tapestry begins in the verdant, pastoral embrace of a Bulgarian village. Dragan and Neda, whose bond was forged in the shared labor of tending flocks, find their childhood amity blossoming into a profound, betrothed devotion. This idyllic existence is shattered by the drums of mobilization, wrenching Dragan from the soil to man an artillery battery on the front lines. The logistical underpinnings of the war effort involve Old Petko, Neda’s surrogate patriarch and a grizzled veteran of the supply trains, who facilitates the clandestine transport of munitions. Driven by an indomitable romantic resolve, Neda orchestrates a perilous stowaway journey within Petko’s shell-laden cart, traversing war-torn landscapes to reunite with her lover. They arrive at the precipice of annihilation; the battery is a charnel house of silenced guns and fallen comrades. In a visceral display of civilian-military synergy, Neda and Petko assume the roles of loaders, feeding the remaining steel behemoths with fresh ordnance while Dragan maintains a relentless barrage. This desperate stand culminates in a decisive repulse of the enemy, an infantry surge, and the symbolic elevation of the national colors, ultimately leading to Dragan’s ascension to the officer corps and a hard-won domestic peace.
Synopsis
In their childhood Dragan and Neda tend the flocks together. In the course of time their friendship grows into love and the two get engaged. Dragan joins the army. The Second Balkan War (1913) breaks out and he is sent to the front with his battery. Among those mobilized in the army supply train of the same unit is Old Petko with whom Neda grew up as an orphan. Old Petko is carting shells for the guns. His route takes him through the village and he meets his granddaughter. Neda manages to persuade him to hide her in his cart and take her to Dragan. The battle is raging. When Neda and Old Petko arrive at the position they find that many of the guns have been put out of action and the gunners killed. Dragan and another soldier are doing all they can to keep up the gunfire. Old Petko and Neda load the serviceable guns with the newly brought shells while Dragan continues to fire at the enemy. The attack has been repulsed and the enemy's advance checked. The girl raises the flag again over the position. The infantry go into attack. Neda embraces her lover while Old Petko is smoking his pipe, delighted at their happiness. Dragan is promoted to the rank of officer and is decorated with a military cross.
Review Excerpt
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The dawn of Bulgarian cinematography is often viewed through the sepia-toned lens of nationalist fervor, yet Dezata na Balkana (Children of the Balkans) transcends mere propaganda to offer a startlingly intimate portrait of human resilience. Released amidst the actual tremors of early 20th-century geopolitical shifts, the film functions as both a historical document and a romantic epic. It avoids the sterilized artifice of later studio productions, opting instead for a gritty, tactile realism..."
