Paradise Hotel (Documentary ENG SUB CC)

Paradise Hotel is a 2010 Bulgarian documentary directed by Sophia Tzavella that portrays life in a rundown Roma housing block on the outskirts of a provincial town, once dubbed "Paradise Hotel" for its socialist-era amenities like parquet floors, central heating, street lamps, and communal benches under apple trees. The film centers on young resident Demir's aspirations for marriage amid the challenges of poverty, social isolation, and decaying infrastructure, while capturing the daily realities of 1,500 inhabitants striving to reclaim their sense of community. It explores themes of integration, love, hardship, and resilience through intimate footage of family dynamics, local customs, and a vibrant Gypsy wedding, including scenes of a spiritual protector named Bozhidar warding off misfortune at the boundary between the block and surrounding fields. Originally produced for Bulgarian National Television and later distributed by HBO Europe, the 54-minute work has screened at international festivals and received awards for its poignant depiction of marginalized lives.