he Book of European Short Pitch. - Nisi Masa

EICKE BETTINGA
GERMANy/BULGARIA
CHAIN
Tel: +49 173 444 7266
E-mail: ebettinga@gmx.net
Intention
During the initial research I came across the shocking
fact that during the Cold War, GDR citizens trying to
flee across the Bulgarian borders to the West were in
some cases shot, even when they could have simply
been arrested. The GDR regime allegedly paid 1.000
Mark to a Bulgarian border soldier for every ‘neutralized’
GDR citizen. Additionally, the Bulgarian State
awarded the soldiers with up to ten days of vacation.
The more I learned about this issue, the more I became
determined to get this story out there and to
shine a light on an unknown issue of recent European
history, which until today remains a taboo.
My goal is to create an emotive, truthful and visually
striking short film, which takes place over one day and
one night during which the lives of two people change
dramatically.
The story would be told using poetic cinematic language,
focusing on the tensions within the characters.
I intend to direct the film with an emphasis on creating
subtext consisting of gestures, glances and facial
expression which will be brought out in the subtleties
of the performances and in a restrained use of visual
suspense.
Synopsis
Southern Bulgaria, 1989 – only a few months before
the fall of the Berlin Wall. While on holiday, twenty year
old Andrea - a free spirited and idealistic girl from the
GDR - decides to carry out a secret plan to cross the
border to Greece.
One morning she gets on a bike and sets off. When
the chain unexpectedly falls off, it appears that Andrea’s
plan is shattered. But then Dian, a young Bulgarian
man, comes along and helps Andrea fix the bike.
Soon they start talking and visibly enjoying each others
company. For a brief moment it seems that anything
is possible. Yet, a little later they say goodbye
and part again.
Night falls and Andrea becomes increasingly restless.
She heads towards the border fence through the darkness
of the forest. Andrea manages to cut the wires
and experiences the first moments of liberty, when all
of a sudden she is surrounded by a group of Bulgarian
border soldiers…
PRODUCTION FACTS
Estimated Budget: 42.000 €
Contrast Film Ltd
E-mail: katya.trichkova@yahoo.com
Nominated for the Co-production Prize of
the Robert Bosch Stiftung
Status: Seeking European co-production
partner, public/private funding, television
pre-sales
“Bulgaria, summer
1989. The story of a
girl and a boy who
meet as friends in
the morning, and the
same night again –
but this time as enemies.”
Director Biography
Eicke Bettinga studied film directing under
Stephen Frears at the National Film &
Television School in England. His graduation
short Shearing was selected for Cinéfondation
at Cannes and won a number
of awards. After attending the Berlinale
Talent Campus, Eicke directed TRUST,
Wohltat, a sci-fi drama set in the year
2020 - commissioned by ZDF. In 2009
Eicke was awarded the cast & cut scholarship,
which led to his short Together.
The film was selected for competition at
Semaine de la Critique in Cannes. Eicke
is based both in Berlin and London, currently
working on a variety of projects,
including a historical feature film commissioned
by Film4.
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