Elen Koleva Movies

Three small-town girls stumble in their ambitions to move up in the world in this drama from Bulgarian filmmaker Lyudmil Todorov. Katya (Violeta Markovska), Dora (Aleksandra Surchadzhieva) and Elena (Ellen Koleva) have known each other since they were children; born and raised in a rural community with few prospects, the women pull up stakes and move to Sofia, with big dreams of making a name for themselves in the fashion industry. However, after a harsh dose of the realities of city life, Katya is lured by sweet-talking pimp Misho (Yulian Vergov) into working at his bordello. Dora and Elena have little more success in the job market, and end up taking blue-collar jobs arranged through their new friend Inna (Gergana Stoyanova). After several months in Sofia, Katya turns her back on her friends in exchange for more money, and Dora steals away Inna's boyfriend Valyo (Assen Blatechki) as their dashed hopes rob them of their scruples. Shivachki (aka Seamstresses) appropriately received its world premiere at the 2008 Sofia Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide