When watching Bulgarian filmmaker Svetoslav Draganov’s new documentary about the three Liliev brothers unfold, you can be forgiven in thinking at first that there is possibly more than a touch or irony in the title of his film. The brothers share their surname, but that’s where the similarity ends. Their mother died a few years ago in circumstances never revealed here, and none of the siblings have remained in touch with their three different fathers. The only constant person in all their lives is their stoic old grandmother who is resigned to fact that her daughter was not a good mother at all.Flamboyant gay Alexander the oldest brother loves to wear make up with an extremely camp array of outfits. He is a hairdresser and spends his free time entering contests. Even in his native Sofia where the competition is far from tough, he only ever wins a prize once. Its for third place and he is as amazed as we are when it is announced. The middle brother Bobby has chosen to take Holy Orders and is a monk. It’s a decision that he seems to bitterly regret and it is clear from interviews with him, that it is a vocation that he lacks the faith for and which he is clearly unsuited for. The youngest brother James, the macho of the three, who although is unemployed has nevertheless set his sights high and wants to be a TV star … and maybe marry his girlfriend.
As they all reminisce we learn from the Grandmother that their mother had walked out on when they were all very young and Alexander acted as de-facto parent to both his brothers. It accounts for the fact that these three extremely different men do have such a close bond which otherwise would never have occurred. But as the film slowly moves to its finale it starts to become clear that as unhappy and unfulfilled as they are, they all have hope that it can, and will, get better for them. And even with their disappointments in how things have turned out they do genuinely believe that life is wonderful. Almost.
Its fascinating because its a rare look into a slice of Bulgarian culture for us outsiders, and observing what they will tolerate in the pursuit of happiness is interesting for jaded western eyes. And then of course there is all that remarkable bad hairdressing!!
