Interview with Malina Petrova
Interview with Malina Petrova
Question : What do you think of the idea to create a site dedicated to female directors in the Bulgarian cinema?
Malina Petrova : I do not divide film directors according to gender. For this reason, I can not say what the contribution of a similar site for the development and improvement of the Bulgarian cinema would be. Maybe it would be useful and would help female film directors around the world to get to know each other better and facilitate their joint initiatives and festivals, but feminism is not my passion.
Q : Why did you become a director in a still male world?
M . P. : When in high school I wanted to become a film director, it didn’t occur to me that the world is male. At school girls prevailed in our class, while boys were few, just for a change. So, our view of the world at that time was more towards a female world...
Q: Is there in your films the perception or sensitivity which you think are different from the male ones? And what is the difference?
M . P. : For sure there is difference, as far as the nature of women and men is concerned, but as far as each one of us is an androgyne, i.e., everyone has signs of both sexes, it is difficult to make such a distinction. It depends on which half beckons ... So, some men with highlighted primary sexual characteristics may prove to be more feminine, softer and sensitive than many women. And vice versa.
Q: Do you agree with the view that directing is mostly a male profession and have you encountered similar opinions?
M . P. : This is the opinion of most male directors, even when they are delicate and do not share it publicly. But if one is sufficiently astute and observant, he will surely read it in the attitude, tone, in the neglect with which they treat their female colleagues. I do not care, the opinion of complexed people does not affect me. Once that brings them satisfaction and self-confidence, and they do not perceive film directing as hard physical work which is strenuous for a woman’s nature.
Q: As a woman, have you had to make sacrifices for the sake of your movies? Was it worth it?
M . P. : I have had to, but in the opposite direction - I sacrificed movies for the sake of people. No matter how much I love my profession and work, in critical situations when I’ve had to make a choice, human compassion and duty has always prevailed. Then and now alike, my answer is that sacrifices were worth it.
Q: In your capacity of woman director have you had any professional difficulties?
M . P. : No, I haven’t had any. Maybe they do not see me as a woman and I do not know what the nature of these difficulties could be. According to my experience and observations, the professional difficulties are the same for all, whether they are men or women.