The film "Gundi: Legend of Love" caused a sensation across the Ocean. Screenings of the film story about the life of legendary football player Georgi Asparuhov – Gundi were held in Los Angeles and Las Vegas as the halls were full.

It is not about Levski, or CSKA. the Bulgarians here are united around the personality of a modern Bulgarian hero, said Radio Bulgaria’s associate in Las Vegas, Maria Samichkova, who watched the film together with our compatriots in Vegas who bought all the tickets days before the screening. What were the emotions after the film?

"Club biases have almost been removed and the film tells the story of a human life. The authors have made a unique film. I watched it with great pleasure and I am very happy that there is such a film about a modern Bulgarian hero that will lift the spirit of young Bulgarians. They should know that in addition to Botev and Levski, there are also modern heroes,” says a spectator from Las Vegas, while another adds:

"It is full of life. I'm impressed by the filmmakers, they've gone to great lengths to find every single detail of his life, which requires a lot of work. The film grabbed me from the first moment and kept me in suspense until the end. Gundi is definitely a Bulgarian legend - a great footballer, a man and a father, who passed away so early. There were many people here and everyone was watching the film with a great interest."

"I am a fan of CSKA, but this is not a film focusing on the football club of Levski.This is a film about the life of a great man. The film is simply unique. I recommend it to everyone!"

The enthusiasm of spectators across the ocean is also shared by moviegoers in Bulgaria. The story about the life of the legendary football player from PFC "Levski" brought not only football fans to the cinemas.

The film about Georgi Asparuhov proves that the love for Bulgarian heroes and stories is strong enough and such productions can compete in Bulgaria with the biggest world blockbusters, such as "Avatar" for example. A month after the premiere, interest in the film continues to be strong.

"Gundi: Legend of Love" continues to write history in Bulgarian cinema, becoming the first film in the recent years to cross the 500,000 audience mark, the production team wrote in social media. According to their calculations, with 507,759 tickets sold so far, this has been the most watched Bulgarian film in cinemas in this country since November 10, 1989.

Gundi's personal story, recreated by actor Pavel Ivanov, conveys in a very authentic way the spirit of a period of Bulgarian history - the time of the totalitarian regime. Truthfulness was the leading factor in the construction of the characters, even those with episodic, almost unnoticeable roles, says Iliyan Yordanov, who plays the role of an artist writing the slogan "Communism is inevitable".

"Even the catering during the filming process was tailored to the era in which the plot takes place - donuts with marmalade and lemonade," he reveals in a conversation with Maria Samichkova. He is delighted with Pavel Ivanov's acting. "I could not take my eyes off him, as he had mastered the posture, the speech, everything…"

Iliyan Yordanov himself is from that generation of Bulgarians who remember the matches of the legendary striker of PFC "Levski" and a participant in three world championships with the national team of Bulgaria:

"Gundi is truly a national hero, because people used to call him 'The President' - he was able to lead millions of people after him", says Iliyan Yordanov and adds: “Even from a moral point of view, there are not many people with such upbringing, with a desire to contribute to others, to the club, to the national team and at the same time to have a position and to defend it like a man. Few people actually have that presence, that charisma."

"This film comes at the perfect moment, because we need people to look into themselves, to look back, and when young people see it - to ask their fathers, mothers, grandparents if it was really like that. We must not forget our history!" Mr. Yordanov says.

Interviews: Maria Samichkova, Radio Bulgaria associate in Las Vegas, USA

Text: Elena Karkalanova

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: Maria Samichkova, BTA