The Worker

After a mine collapse, Georgi leaves his family in Bulgaria for Germany. He switches jobs, facing exploitation as an undocumented worker. His desire to maintain the image of a luxurious life in rich Germany leads him to construct a facade far from his truth.

Georgi, a Roma man and a father in his late twenties, sustains his family as a miner in a small Bulgarian village. After a mine collapse kills his best friend, Georgi leaves his wife and daughter to seek a better life in Germany. He believes earning money abroad will allow him to provide well for his daughter. However, in Berlin, he ends up exploited as an illegal construction worker. He’s forced to take various jobs, yet his desire for financial stability remains unfulfilled. Georgi finds himself in a legal and societal grey area, rightsless and invisible. He creates the myth of a successful, carefree life to earn admiration and validation in his village. To maintain this façade, he crosses boundaries, even sleeping with men for money. His emotions become entangled when he enters a relationship with an older man, compelling him to question his notions of masculinity. He finds solace in his friendship with art student Lilyana, who offers him a glimpse into a different life.

Keywords: migration, isolation, social status

Director's note:
Several encounters motivated me to make this film, feeling it was my duty after working with many Bulgarian Roma in a Berlin counselling centre. Their living conditions shocked and saddened me. "The Worker" reflects the harsh reality lived by many. They were uninsured, paying high rents without leases, and working off the books for poor or no pay, some as prostitutes. They lived in overcrowded apartments while their families believed they had stable jobs. These individuals are vulnerable as they officially "do not exist" in Germany. Pandemic aid packages excluded them, deepening their poverty and stigmatisation. I feel compelled to make this film, as such stories are rare and often silenced. My aim is to create an authentic film that respects its protagonists, using a mix of professional and non-professional actors and shooting on location to ensure authenticity. My collaboration with cinematographer Constanze Schmitt will help create a sincere, sensitive, and artistically valuable film.

Producer's note:
"The Worker" will be my second feature film and a significant milestone for Fourmat Film, marking our first international co-production. After completing "The Expert at the Card Table" in 2022 and wrapping up "An Evening in December" in 2023, our motivation for "The Worker" is stronger than ever. With partners ROW and Red Carpet, we aim to bring this project to fruition. "The Worker" explores labour migration within the EU, from rural Bulgaria to Germany's construction industry. Georgi navigates the poverty of his homeland and the wealth of Germany, finding himself nearly rightless in a foreign society under family pressure to succeed. Developed by director Eliza Petkova, the film draws on her insights into Bulgarian migrant workers' lives. Intended as a German-Bulgarian co-production to be realized in 2025, the film targets the arthouse circuit and broader audiences. With confirmed funding from HessenFilm and ongoing applications, we seek additional partners to finalize financing.