REAR WINDOWS

ЗАДНИ ПРОЗОРЦИ

Animation,

Bulgaria

2025

Runtime, min

Rear Windows reveals the back sides of tall apartment buildings, offering glimpses into the lives of various neighbors. Their routines are disrupted when a thief leaps from one apartment to another and locks eyes with a woman who screams. Startled, he drops his bag of stolen money and grows anxious. Without hesitation, the woman hits him over the head with a frying pan. But instead of reacting, the others simply appear at their windows, whisper “Shhh!” in unison, and quietly shut their curtains. With irony and humor, the animation highlights the detachment and indifference among people in modern urban life.

Director:

Plamena Petrova Petrova

Selections and Awards:

REVIEWS:

A charming homage to Hitchcock, but with a Balkan flair. I love how the vertical composition creates a sense of claustrophobia. It’s not just a cartoon; it’s a metaphor for how we are trapped in our little cells. The irony is that disturbing the peace is considered a greater sin than theft.

Gabriel Roy

The fisheye angle looking down at the thief in the orange suit is brilliantly drawn. I love the texture. It looks like pastel or live pencil sketch. The warm yellow tones are deceptive. They create coziness, even though the story is actually quite cold and cynical.

Helen UFM Media

Fitting a complete narrative arc into one minute is an art form. The film effectively uses grotesque to ridicule modern alienation.

Elena Prav