Michael Palin’s New Europe screened in Sofia, audience rages.
Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 4:53 pmLast night I went to see a special screening which featured segments of Michael Palin’s (of Monty Python fame) new documentary series on Eastern Europe. After the screening was a Q&Q segment with Jon-Paul Davidson, the film’s director.
The screening, which took place at the Lumiere Theater at NDK, got a lot of laughs from the audience (me included) which featured scenes of Palin drinking home-distilled Rakiya, dancing with pistol wielding gypsies in Plovdiv and hiking to the Seven Rila Lakes at Summer Solstice to see the “White Brotherhood” spiritual gathering. (Note: Not related to White Power or the Aryan Brotherhood). I had a lot of fun watching it despite numerous “technical difficulties” the theater staff encountered. The Q&A was a desperately disappointing affair, and I felt sorry for J.P. Davidson as the audience showed the depths of their own insecurities and self consciousness about their country and history. “Why did you show Bulgarian’s drinking Rakiya? The world will think we are all alcoholics!” “Why did you include such a long segment about gypsies? The world will think we’re a backwards country full of gypsies!” “Why didn’t you go to (insert someplace here) instead, so everyone could see how great that is?” and stirring the most controversy… “Why did your film give Macedonia credit in the development of the cyrillic alphabet? That was BULGARIA!!!! ARGHH!!” Davidson politely listened to question after question like these and answered all in roughly the same way, highly paraphrased: “Every country we went to had complaints about the way we portrayed them, but we were not out to create a fully representational or balanced documentary… we wanted to choose a few things that we as outsiders found interesting and focus on those with the limited time we had. I think you will in fact find that this film inspires more tourists to travel to Bulgaria and discover it for themselves which can’t be a bad thing.” It may be because I grew up in Southern California in a culture that thrives and churns on constant exaltation and self-devouring criticism, building up and tearing down its own image on a regular basis, but I had hoped for an audience with a greater sense of humor and cultural pride, and not one that came across as ashamed an fearful at what had been swept out from under the rug.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Is this going to be broadcast any time soon? If so, do you know how or where? I’d love to see it. Michael Palin’s travel show on PBS was total brilliance!
March 10th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I know that it is being released on DVD here, and I think that it has been broadcast on BBC One already (not sure). google video perhaps?
I just remembered though that Davidson also told the audience that he and Michael are in the middle of filming a similar series in the U.S.A. (on all 50 states) and have thus far completed 30 states. That one ought to make it to PBS at least.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
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March 12th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Not sure why you are so surprised that people followed up with questions when the movie apparently swayed away from real facts (re: cyrillic alphabet). I have not seen the movie but if it is based mainly on controversies and stories based on improper interpretations of country’s history, people have the full right to react and ask questions. Furthermore, this demonstrates cultural pride and self-respect (that many other countries are so proud of) not lack of such.
As far as the movie is concerned, just by stirring controversies, it gets its doze of popularity, so no worries …
March 12th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
This wasn’t a controversial piece, and wasn’t even trying to tackle any historical issues. It was just a survey of interesting aspects of modern Bulgarian culture as seen by outsider as he traveled through the region.
I didn’t think a quick and careless comment (on cyrillic) in an otherwise good documentary did not warrant the lion’s share of discussion.
The disturbing thing to me was the audiences inability to accept what Michael Palin found interesting about the realities in Bulgarian culture. Rakiya drinking, gypsies, etc.
March 21st, 2008 at 5:33 am
Well, Michael Palin’s episode on Bulgaria was somewhat puzzling, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. It was clearly meant to be neither a balanced overview of the country, nor tourist advertisement, so the gypsy ghetto in Plovdiv and the gypsy folk singer Azis had full right to be included. I was actually born in Plovdiv, and since I haven’t been to the gypsy neighborhood for at least 25 years, it was quite surreal to see Michael Palin’s segment. Still, the choice was quite strange - would you expect a film documentary on New York City to consist only of a segment on Harlem, for example?
March 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
In Serbia MP’s visit went mostly unnoticed. I didn’t see much of it myself on tv but one of our supposed rock stars Rambo Amadeus was interviewed and complained afterward that he had come out of it looking a little silly and that it was cut.
Generally I think that MP has lost his edge, this prog doesnt measure up to his around the world series. Quite honestly I think some of it is to do with his age now.
There is one other fact you may probably know to bear in mind. MP (OMG just realised MP, Monty Python, duh) was very popular in the Balkans. Perhaps one of the reasons people were overly sensitive is that they desperately wanted MP to be honorary members of their country…
March 26th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
@Daniel: I agree with you, and the Plovdiv segment was not what I expected, but I definitely enjoyed it. I ‘d probably say the same for an NYC documentary focused on Harlem… It’s a difficult comparison though since there are already thousands on documentaries and films set in and around NYC.
@bganon… interesting theory… it may have had a lot to do with people’s hopes and expectations from a long time idol.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:39 am
I always liked Monty Python and I can just imagine how funny that would have been. It sounds though like they really stuffed up the interview process. What a shame. You would think that television companies and presenters alike would inform themselves before making mistakes like that.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:48 am
I am with Adriana on this one. I watched the part on Bulgaria and I can’t agree that the gypsy ghetto in Plovdiv is the most interesting thing an outsider will find in Bulgaria. I beleive they are truly unique people and places in the country that would have been of interst to any foreigner.
It looks to me that the gypsy ghetto was on Palin’s way from Macedonia to Turkey and that’s the main reason it was chosen for the series. And, by the way, I couldn’t find anything funny in this part. I would say that it is all a result of very poor research and lack of willingness to get to know the real Bulgarian people and culture.
Extremely disappointed…
May 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I realize this is an older post, and you’ve moved on to other subjects in “The Balkan Yankee,” but–wow–I am surprised (and actually not-so-surprised) at the same reactions you’re getting in your comments here as the audiences’ reaction!
People, are you really this thin-skinned?! If no one is allowed to make a little fun of your country/culture/ethnic group, then there is something seriously wrong–as within your arch-enemy’s border’s: Turkey actually has a law against “insulting Turkishness” (Article 301.) Is this what you want? BTW, I’m not just talking to Bulgarians, this is a common attitude of close-minded people all over this globe. Anything worth revering must also be able to stand up to other’s ridicule!
Regarding “how would you like…America” type arguments, there are plenty of (mainly British and Australian) shows that regularly poke fun at America and pick out the most wacky, absurd, backwards (and of course entertaining…that is the point) people, locations, and situations that they can find during pre-production research and on-location filming–including the frat boys from my alma mater: University of South Carolina–so proud!
In case it was lost on you, Sasha Cohen Baron’s recent film “Borat” was not really making fun of Eastern Europe & Central Asia as much as it was making fun of America; they went out of their way to find interesting people that would make fools of themselves and sign releases afterwards.
I’ve spent nearly 2 years of my life in Bulgaria now, and if I were making a popular, fun travel program about Bulgaria, of course I would include Rakia and Gypsies…otherwise it would be just another boring promotional, “department of tourism” type video that no one would want to see.
So, lighten up everybody! And keep up the good work, Garth. Incidentally, I was in Sofia 2 weeks ago and had a great time…and maybe a little too much Rakia (as Zach will likely attest.)
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I love Michale Palin’s travel shows, i’ll have to check that one out.
I’m sure that those Q&A sessions must be tedious.