Wild Strawberries: Review by Kaiyrkul Abdyrakhmanova

We live as long as we are remembered

By Kaiyrkul Abdyrakhmanova

Wild Strawberries is Bulgarian director Tatyana Pandurska’s fiction debut, inspired by Ekaterina Tomova’s 1981 collection Forgotten by the Heavens, and explores themes of memory, belonging, and the fragile bond between generations.

American-Bulgarian Daphne (Vanina Kondova) returns from America to her family’s homeland in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, with the goal of selling her late grandmother’s house to her cousin Orlin (Ivan Yurukov). However, what was meant to be a quick trip gradually becomes a personal journey through memory, in which the heroine rediscovers her ancestors and their destinies, the ties she had once tried to cut off.

Long takes, leisurely dialogue, and an almost tangible stillness of space draw the viewer into an atmosphere of silence. Hand-woven carpets become vessels of memory, their colors and patterns preserving the stories of those who came before. Spring water functions as a symbol of life and continuity, emphasizing the connection between nature and human destiny. Such details convey the director’s sincere attachment to tradition, as well as her respect for the wisdom of the older generation.

While Daphne’s emotional arc – from alienation to a recognition of her roots – develops unevenly, and her inner motivations are only partially revealed, cousin Orlin stands out as vibrant, genuine and relatable. This is apparent in scenes of touching simplicity and warmth: when questioned by his wife about whether he managed to finalize the purchase of the house, he responds not with words but by awkwardly clucking to defuse the tension. Although he tried to buy the house at a lower price and concealing its true value, the moment still reveals a gentle temperament beneath the opportunism.

Despite its slow pace and occasional narrative fragmentation, Wild Strawberries leaves an impression of respect for tradition and for the memory of the past. Daphne’s journey explores life continuing through memory, and the fragile yet essential connection between past and present.

Director:Tatyana Pandurska
Editor: Tanya Petkova
Cast:  Vanina Kondova, Ivan Yurukov, Stella Gancheva, Neno Koynarsky, Nikola Pashov, Nikola Dodov, Kiril Kavadarkov, Anna Bankina, Vasil Binev, Nikola Stefanov, Vasil Chitanov, Nikol Milevska, Anna Petrova, Yoanna Kapitanova
Running Time: 102 min.
Country: Bulgaria
Year:2025

©FIPRESCI 2025