In Stalinist Bulgaria, schoolgirl Alexandra’s world shatters when her father, once hailed as a war hero, is suddenly branded a traitor. Cast out of the Pioneers and humiliated in front of her classmates, she finds herself isolated in a society where betrayal is demanded and innocence is punished. Only Ivan, a boy who refuses to abandon her, stands by her side — but their friendship is tested against a regime where survival means choosing between loyalty and fear.
The film was released during the final years of communist rule in Bulgaria, which gave the story — focused on denunciations, loyalty, and betrayal under Stalinism — an even deeper resonance for audiences of the time.
Child actors Monika Budjonova (Aleksandra) and Kliment Corbadziev (Ivan) delivered strikingly natural performances, which critics praised for bringing authenticity and vulnerability to the harsh political setting.
Though set in the 1950s, the film was often interpreted as a subtle critique of contemporary politics in the late 1980s, just before the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.
