Teleman Production Company – www.ntv.bg/productions/show_productions.php?id+42
Programme Description:
“Otechestven Front” (Fatherland Front) is a weekly prime time TV show that seeks to challenge prejudices or myths in Bulgarian society. For two episodes broadcast in June 2007 it was decided to use Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as an allegory to reveal current racial discrimination against the Roma community in Bulgaria. A real life scenario was used in which a young Roma man and a Bulgarian girl are in love, but the girl’s family refuses to accept the match because of her beau’s ethnic origins.
The film makers actively took on the role of facilitators and attempted to reunite ‘Juliet’ with her family. Comparisons were made between the two families and preconceived notions of Roma were systematically dismissed. By addressing the reasons for the tragedy in Shakespeare’s doomed love story, the film makers attempted to prevent them from reoccurring in their own society. They hoped that in revealing the prejudices of this one family, prejudices against Roma as a whole would be opened up to debate.
Challenge:
The film makers were actively involved in trying to reconcile ‘Juliet’ with her family. Unfortunately Shakespeare’s tragedy once again ended badly; the parents became aggressive and threatened their daughter’s life.
Solution:
There was no solution to this problem but it was a challenge the film makers were willing to face. It meant that the violence and cruelty of discrimination was revealed to its full extent. The film makers believe this ultimately helped in aligning public sympathies with the young lovers.
Impact and Success Stories:
- A show challenging social prejudice against Roma was shown on prime time TV and the ratings during its airing were significantly higher than previous programmes.
- “Romeo and Juliet” received two slots on “Fatherland Front”, due to its popularity and the complexity of its story line.
- There was a large audience response. More than 90% of the opinions sent in were on the side of the young couple.
Quotes:
“We show discrimination, we do not only talk about it. And most of all, we show others what is wrong with this attitude and how they can prevent it.” Nadya Teodosieva, Scriptwriter
