Set during World War I, The Peach Thief follows a forbidden relationship that develops between a Serbian prisoner of war and the wife of a Bulgarian officer, unfolding within the confined space of a military camp. An initial act of peach theft leads to an unexpected emotional connection that challenges the boundaries of duty, loyalty, and national identity.
CLASSICAL FILM SELECTION
THE PEACH THIEF
English title:
The peach thief
Original title:
Kradetsat na praskovi
Director:
Vulo Radev
Country:
Bulgaria
Genre:
fiction
Year:
1964
Length:
105’
Cast:
Rade Marković, Nevena Kokanova, Mihail Mihailov and Naum Șopov
A quote for the film:
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Selective list of festivals and awards:
Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival (1964) - Winner: Best Actor (Rade Marković), Best Actress (Nevena Kokanova), Special Jury Award for Best Film (Vulo Radev), Varna Special Award - Best Actor (Mikhail Mikhaylov), Special Mention - Best Actor (Georgi Georgiev), Venice Film Festival (1964)- Nominee: Golden Lion (Vulo Radev).
Director’s bio:
Vulo Radev was a Bulgarian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer, born in the village of Lesidren. A graduate of the prestigious VGIK Film Institute in Moscow (1953), he began his artistic journey in 1952 with his first documentary film. Over the following years, he directed several important works in Bulgarian cinema, such as Citizens of Dimitrovgrad (1956), On the Eve (1959), adapted from Ivan Turgenev’s novel, and Tobacco (1962). His fiction debut, The Peach Thief (1964), was based on a short story by Yordan Radichkov (with earlier adaptations or attributions sometimes listing Emilian Stanev). The film marked a defining moment in his career, offering a subtle reflection on human fragility and the anxieties of modern existence.
