3/4

fiction / 2017 / Bulgaria / col. / 82 min.

Director: Ilijan Metev • Ilian Metev
Screenplay: Ilijan Metev • Ilian Metev, Betina Ip
Photography: Julian Atanasov • Julian Atanassov
Editor: Ilijan Metev • Ilian Metev
Cast: Mila Michova • Mila Mikhova, Nikolaj Mašalov • Nikolay Mashalov, Todor Velčev • Todor Velchev, Simona Genkova, Kalojan Georgiev • Kaloyan Georgiev, Alexander Kurtenkov, Teodor Velinov, Bono Lungov, Bojan Bokov • Boyan Bokov, Konstantin Kurtev, Danail Delčev • Danail Delchev

Feature debut of the Bulgarian documentary filmmaker Ilian Metev, who was awarded the Golden Leopard at last year’s IFF Locarno. “The titular trio is headed by genteel patriarch and astrophysics professor Todor, whose armʼs-length affection toward his children belies a need for stability. Mila, his daughter, is under pressure to pass an entrance exam for a piano school in Germany, while younger brother Niki is combatting his feelings about being separated from his sister with boisterous, pubescent outbursts. The three orbit each other despite an unspoken but palpable absence... the missing quarter of the title. That is until collective loneliness, miscommunication, and anxiety put enough stress on everyone to upset the order of things.” (Dimitri Eipides)