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Once There Was a War poster
IMDb20191h 59mBulgaria

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.

Release History & Theatrical Window

World Premiere

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

Director

Anri Kulev

Screenplay & Story

Vladi Kirov

Department Leadership Roster

Anri Kulev

Anri Kulev

Director

Vladi Kirov

Screenplay

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Once There Was a War.

Featured In Curated Collections

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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.