Das geträumte Abenteuer (The Dreamed Adventure)

In Svilengrad, crime is a constant and palpable presence. The Bulgarian town begins where the law ends, or so the local mantra goes. Its inhabitants do what they can to survive, cautiously manoeuvring between the shadowy activities of local kingpins and occasionally confessing their sins in trusted company, in the dark and accompanied by copious amounts of alcohol. Veska, an archaeologist with roots in the region, manages to hold her own with a gentle smile in the lawless border town, until a former associate disappears in disturbing circumstances. Suddenly, the sharp-witted archaeologist finds herself forced to uncover not only her archaeological site, but also a complex criminal network. In anyone else’s hands, this premise might herald a blockbuster gangster film, but German filmmaker Valeska Grisebach opts for a radically different approach. As in her previous film Western, Grisebach infuses this naturalistic neo-noir with political commentary. Under her direction, Das Geträumte Abenteuer becomes a slow-burning, sensual thriller filled with charged conversations and simmering tension.