''The Past-Master'' () is a Bulgarian satiric TV comedy film released in 1973, directed by
Petar B. Vasilev.
The movie turned the actor
Kiril Gospodinov and his character Rangel Lelin - the past-master into one of the Trade Marks of the Bulgarian film art. ''The Past-Master'' became so popular that producers were made to consider sequels which eventually happened a decade later.
There are four more films released as sequels:
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Bash Maystorat na More / The Past-Master at the Seaside (1977)
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Bash Maystorat na Ekskurziya / The Past-Master on Excursion (1980)
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Bash Maystorat Fermer / The Past-Master-Farmer (1981)
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Bash Maystorat Nachalnik / The Past-Master - Boss (1983)
Plot
A research worker Robespier Galabov (
Yakovlev
The Joint-stock company, JSC A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau () is a Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer (design office prefix Yak). Its head office is in Aeroport District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow. It is a subsidiary of Yakovle ...
) lives with his family in a small communal flat with shared kitchen and dreams about a self-contained home. Galabov meet Rangel Lelin (
Gospodinov), the well-known amidst the localities as the past-master, when he realized that the new municipal apartment they apply for won't be ready in the next decade. The Past-Master promises to build the private house in a month. After starting the construction, Rangel Lelin constantly blackmail Galabov for more money through treat of "''putting the hat''".
Finally the house was built but the inauguration become gloomy. It turns out that the chimney of the fireplace doesn't work properly.
After days of luckless attempts to solve the problem the past-master's brother come into sight. Knowing the Lelin's tricks he find a hat built in the chimney.
Production
Production company:
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Bulgarian National Television
The Bulgarian National Television ( Bulgarian: Българска национална телевизия, ''Balgarska natsionalna televizia'') or BNT (БНТ), stylized as ·Б·Н·Т· since 2018, is a public television broadcaster of Bulgaria ...
Director:
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Petar B. Vasilev devoted his works to the comedy and more accurately to satirical one. He created sequence of films, with the main character The Past-Master, which popularity goes beyond the scope of their contemporaneity.
Writer:
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Atanas Mandadzhiev being an author of novels and novelettes he had a go at screenplays. The Past-Master work, a bitting comedy, gained the sympathies of the public. Moreover, the main character turned into a byword for definite stratum that lives on the system defects.
Director of Photography
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Krum Krumov
Krum (, ), often referred to as Krum the Fearsome () was the Khan (title), Khan of First Bulgarian Empire, Bulgaria from sometime between 796 and 803 until his death in 814. During his reign the Bulgarian territory doubled in size, spreading fr ...
worked with some of the most interesting Bulgarian directors. Always subordinating the dramaturgy he succeeded in creating of his individual study of style.
Filmed: 1970
The film was released on DVD in 2000s.
Cast
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Kiril Gospodinov ...as Rangel Lelin the past-master
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Yuri Yakovlev ...as Robespier Galabov the research worker
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Valentina Borisova ...as Galabov's wife
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Veselina Nikolaeva ...as Lelin's wife
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Todor Todorov
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Vladimir Davchev
Response
The film was subsumed among the 50 golden Bulgarian films in the book by the journalist Pencho Kovachev. The book was published in 2008 by "Zahariy Stoyanov" publishing house.
References
*Pencho Kovachev, ''50 Golden Bulgarian Films'', Zahariy Stoyanov 2008
Film and Actors Review
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Past-Master, The
Bulgarian satirical films
1970s Bulgarian-language films
Films set in Bulgaria
Films shot in Bulgaria
1970 films
Films directed by Petar B. Vasilev