Nelly Chervenusheva

The film institute in Sofia may be the only place in the world in which every session is unique. Silent, classical films come alive through original live music and direct translation. Everything is as it was 30 years ago thanks to the director who has prevented this 'art of the moment' from deteriorating.

She is Neli Chervenusheva and film lovers know only her voice. For almost half a century, Neli has been translating the great Italian cinema from the back of the hall at the Archival Cinema "Odeon". The booth is 1.30 by 1.50 meters. And in this tiny, shabby space, she has fit “all of her Italy.” Yet Neli has never set foot in Italy. The film shows the tragically belated first love encounter between Neli and Italy — now 78 years old, she visits the places she has only ever seen in films. She is finally with “her princes,” Ettore Scola and Mario Monicelli. With tender yet merciless sentimentality, the film reveals this long-delayed fulfillment of human dreams.