

Once There Was a War
Имало една война
Synopsis
Is a war big or small for someone who has lost his life in it? It's a film-trip or, as it's called today, a road movie. The road to the war is a greater ordeal than a battle… In an unprecedented march the forty-thousand strong Bulgarian Army, crossing from the southern to the western frontier of the country, covers the distance in less than two days and two nights with no roads, railway or other means of transport available… and wins the war. But this seemingly chaotic whirl of events will clearly follow the path of a young woman from the grave of her child to the death of her husband. And there will be the Cripple – a boy with his romantic urge to die for his Fatherland dying in the most important battle in life – for human dignity. There are also the bodies of two men clinging to each other in Death’s grip among the reeds in the mud. The war has made them enemies but they are more like bleeding Atlas Telamons with a peaceful sky steady on their shoulders.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
Moscow International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Anri Kulev
- Screenplay & Story
- Vladi Kirov
- Original Title
- Имало една война
- Country of Origin
- Bulgaria
- Spoken Languages
- Bulgarian
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Production Studios
- BNT, Kulev Film Production, Shibuya Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Anri Kulev
Vladi Kirov
Department Leadership Roster
Anri Kulev
Director
Vladi Kirov
Screenplay
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Once There Was a War.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Once There Was a War
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Once There Was a War about?
Is a war big or small for someone who has lost his life in it? It's a film-trip or, as it's called today, a road movie. The road to the war is a greater ordeal than a battle… In an unprecedented march the forty-thousand strong Bulgarian Army, crossing from the southern to the western frontier of the country, covers the distance in less than two days and two nights with no roads, railway or other means of transport available… and wins the war. But this seemingly chaotic whirl of events will clearly follow the path of a young woman from the grave of her child to the death of her husband. And there will be the Cripple – a boy with his romantic urge to die for his Fatherland dying in the most important battle in life – for human dignity. There are also the bodies of two men clinging to each other in Death’s grip among the reeds in the mud. The war has made them enemies but they are more like bleeding Atlas Telamons with a peaceful sky steady on their shoulders.
Who directed Once There Was a War?
Once There Was a War was directed by Anri Kulev.
Who stars in Once There Was a War?
The principal cast of Once There Was a War includes Tsvetan Aleksiev, Phillip Avramov, Ben Cross, Samuel Finzi, Luiza Grigorova.
When was Once There Was a War released and how long is it?
Once There Was a War was released in 2019 with a total runtime of 1h 59m.
