Filmmaker Statement

In Bulgaria we have a game called "strazhari and apashi". It is a rather brutal game, where kids split in two groups one group acts as "policeman", the other group are the "outlaws". The "apashi" (aka outlaws) make up a password, which they have to protect at all costs, the "strazhari" try to either catch the "apashi" and convert them to be a part of their team or they are allowed to torture them to get the password. The usual tortures are tickling, but in this film we take a look at what happens when the game gets too real too fast. In this cozy detective story we explore imagination, childhood and what it means to win.