Watch Viktoria

Viktoria is a 2014 Bulgarian drama film directed by Maya Vitkova. The film stars Irmena Chichikova, Daria Vitkova, and Kalina Vitkova. The story revolves around Boryana, a woman living in communist Bulgaria. Being forbidden to have children, Boryana refuses to have an abortion when she gets pregnant. However, after giving birth to Viktoria, she realizes that her daughter has been born without a navel, which means that she cannot bond with her.

As Viktoria grows up in communist Bulgaria, she becomes a symbol of the regime's propaganda. She even meets the dictator of the country, Todor Zhivkov, and becomes his favorite child. Viktoria's importance to the regime leads Boryana and her husband, Ivan, to be granted a luxurious apartment and a car.

However, despite being given everything they could ever want, Boryana and Ivan grow increasingly unhappy. Viktoria's absence of a navel becomes a symbol of their lack of connection with their daughter. As the regime falls apart, Boryana and Ivan are forced to come to terms with the fact that their daughter's importance was a lie.

One of the key themes of the movie is the contrast between the harsh reality of life under communist Bulgaria, and the fantastical propaganda that the regime produced to promote itself. Through this contrast, Viktoria explores the ways in which individuals are made to feel both insignificant and vital under oppressive regimes.

Visually, the film uses color to great effect. The opening scenes are tinted in a cold, blue light, while scenes depicting the communist propaganda are filled with bright red. Additionally, the film makes use of surreal imagery throughout, with dreamlike sequences that highlight the characters' internal turmoil.

The film also features strong performances from all the main cast. Irmena Chichikova is captivating as Boryana, depicting a woman struggling to come to terms with the sacrifices that she has made for her daughter. Daria Vitkova and Kalina Vitkova are both excellent as Viktoria at different stages of her development.

Overall, Viktoria is a powerful film that explores the ways in which individuals are used by oppressive regimes for their own ends. It is an emotionally charged and visually stunning work, with a strong script and excellent performances from the cast.

Viktoria is a 2016 kids & family movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 55.