Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
    Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 2 But Why Tho 10

    Spider-Man Is Coming To Magic And It’s Just Like The Comics

    08/29/2025
    Star Wars Visions Volume 3 Black

    ‘Black’ Sets The Tone For A Bold New Mixtape In ‘Star Wars Visions: Volume 3’

    08/28/2025
    Olivia Colman in The Roses

    ‘The Roses’ Is A Reimagining, Not A Remake, And That’s Why It Works So Well

    08/27/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Interviews » TIFF19: Carolyn Talks…with ‘The Father’ Writer and Director Petar Valchanov

TIFF19: Carolyn Talks…with ‘The Father’ Writer and Director Petar Valchanov

Carolyn HindsBy Carolyn Hinds09/26/20193 Mins ReadUpdated:11/11/2021
The Father
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email
the Father
Still From The Father

Grief and humor are an odd emotional combo that humans experience when a loved one has died. If you’ve ever attended a funeral and something absurd happened and it made you laugh, then The Father by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchancov will be relatable, trust me, I know of what I speak. Following the death of his wife Valentina, Vassil (Ivan Savov) learns that she has been contacting the neighbor through the phone, and as someone heavily influenced by superstition, he goes on a trip to contact her. Concerned about the mental state of Vassil and Valentina’s son, Pavel (Ivan Barnev) reluctantly tags along to keep his father in check and hopefully persuade him to be realistic about the situation.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Though The Father has it’s moments of off-kilter humor, and wacky stunts –  like a hilarious chase scene involving a horse-drawn cart –  it’s easy to see that it’s a story about a father and son who are doing their best – and failing – to handle the sudden loss of a loved one. For Pavel, his search to find a medium may seem like he’s running towards Valentina, but in reality, he’s running away from his grief, and so is Pavel. Both men are consumed with guilt over how they could’ve been a better husband and father, and use the road trip as a distraction. Having a strained relationship with Vassil adds more stress to Pavel, who is dealing with difficult situations at home and work. For him, it seems like everything is falling apart and he’s a hair’s breadth away from having an emotional breakdown.

Greif is an emotion that takes time to process. It’s consumes and makes you question every word said, and action done towards the one we’ve lost, and like Vassil and Pavel learn, we can make it through to the other side to save the relationships we have now.


About The Directors

Kristina GrozevaKristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov are a writer-producer-director couple based in Sofia, Bulgaria. They first met at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts and have been working together ever since. In 2009 they cemented this collaboration into their very own production company Abraxas Film. Their goal – to produce shorts, features, and documentaries with memorable characters and gripping storylines that are equal parts amusing, upsetting and touching.

Kristina and Petar’s short film debut Jump (2012) became the first Bulgarian film ever Petar Valchanovnominated for the European Film Award. Their independent micro-budget feature debut The Lesson (2014) and its follow-up Glory (2016) went on to become two of the most acclaimed Bulgarian films of the 21st century, garnering numerous awards both at home and around the world. The titles are parts of the directors’ so-called Newspaper Clippings Trilogy of stories inspired by media sensations depicting the absurdity of life in post-communist Bulgaria. The final installment, Triumph, is currently in development.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘The Plot,’ Issue #1
Next Article Young Justice’s Failed Promise of Middle Eastern Representation
Carolyn Hinds
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

I am a Freelance Film Critic, Journalist and Podcaster - and avid live tweeter. Member of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), my published work can be found on ButWhyThoPodcast, The Beat, Observer, and many other sites. As a critic, I believe my personal experiences and outlook on life, give readers and listeners a different perspective they can appreciate, and help them to see things in a new light. I am the proud host of Beyond The Romance Drama Podcast - a podcast dedicated to discussing Korean and other Asian dramas, the co-host of So Here's What Happened! Podcast (@SHWH_Pod), and the weekly science fiction film and TV live tweet event #SaturdayNightSciFi.

Related Posts

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail

Final Fantasy’s Naoki Yoshida Looks Back To Look Forward

09/03/2025
The Comic Shop

Cheyenne Ewulu’s ‘The Comic Shop’ Is The Sitcom Fandom Deserves

08/30/2025
Star Wars Visions Volume 3 BLACK Directed by Shinya Ohira

Shinya Ohira Explores Pain, Sacrifice, And Storytelling In ‘Black’ For ‘Visions Volume 3’

08/29/2025
Star Wars Visions Volume 3 James Waugh But Why Tho

James Waugh Believes Unique Expression Is The Heart Of ‘Star Wars: Visions Volume 3’

08/28/2025
Chip 'n Claws vs Brainioids promotional game still from Snapshot Games

Snapshot Games Devs Talk About How They Found Joy Developing Chip ‘N Claws

08/28/2025
Daniel Marin as Namor in Marvel Rivals

Namor’s Latinidad Is Personal For ‘Marvel Rivals’ Voice Actor Daniel Marín

08/23/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Cosmic Spider-Man card details Features

[EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

By Kate Sánchez09/02/2025Updated:09/02/2025

An exclusive look at a new 5-Color Spider entering Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set, and Cosmic Spider-Man is going to be a tough one to take on.

Hololive EN at Radio City Music Hall Events

Hololive EN At Radio City Music Hall Was A Pure Expression Of Fandom

By Adrian Ruiz08/31/2025Updated:09/03/2025

Hololive EN turned Radio City in New York City into the pure expression of fandom: chants, penlights, and community in perfect sync.

Karl Anthony Towns in NBA 2k26 But Why Tho
8.5
PS5

REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K26’ Brings Basketball To Life

By Kyle Foley09/03/2025

NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh in the latest yearly release.

Cronos: The New Dawn Nest
8.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Cronos: The New Dawn’ Does Post-Apocalyptic Psychological Horror Right

By Mick Abrahamson09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

While not particularly sacry, Cronos: The New Dawn is a lot of fun as a survival horror that puts you in the futuristic armor of the Traveler.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here