Bulgarian actor Georgi Zlatarev had the honor of starring in a film with her, shot right here in Boyana.
“Long live Gina Lollobrigida! Long live cinema!”
These are the closing words of Box Office 3D, a film shot in Bulgaria at the Boyana Studios, where the queen of the silver screen appears — even if only as the final flourish at the end. The lead actor and producer is Ezio Greggio, a major Italian film star and the creator and host of the show Lords of the Air.
Bulgarian actor Georgi Zlatarev, part of the ensemble at the Vazrazhdane Theatre where he performs in hit productions adapted from iconic films, frequently receives invitations to participate in foreign film projects. One of them was Box Office 3D, and it was during this film that the unforgettable creative encounter with the eternal and legendary Gina Lollobrigida took place.
“Tell us about the film — and about the moment you met Gina Lollobrigida?”
“It was here in Sofia, about ten years ago. It was the first Italian 3D film — Box Office 3D, starring the comedian Ezio Greggio, the creator of Lords of the Air.
Gina Lollobrigida hadn’t appeared in a film for about twenty years at that point. The movie is a comedy — a parody of well-known Hollywood titles. We spoof ten American blockbusters. I played the main role in three of the parodies: The Da Vinci Code, Gladiator, and The Godfather. The others were Avatar, The Mask of Zorro, and Harry Potter.
She arrived after the final segment. She appears at the very end of the film and says something to Ezio like: ‘What kind of nonsense are you doing?’ She played herself. Then the two of them got into an open vintage car, and all of us followed behind them along the famous “New York” street set in Boyana — like a grand parade.
Like all truly great icons, she was natural, grounded, and came over to greet us.”
A Queen Among Equals — Yet Above All
“Her assistant was travelling with her, and while we were talking he showed me photos on his phone of her latest sculptures. She worked on a massive scale — not small pieces — and at that moment they were both very excited about a new upcoming project.
But we on set were far more excited, because Gina Lollobrigida is part of cinema history — part of world history. With her influence and charisma, people used to say that if she had decided to reshape the world, everyone would have followed her. Not to mention her ties to Castro, and many others.
She is an extraordinary woman! When we talked, my voice shook, my legs trembled, my knees nearly gave out. If Gina Lollobrigida fixes your lapel or collar — you faint! And that’s exactly what happened to me.
She would walk around and speak to her colleagues in the most normal, natural way.”
“Was she really that magnetic in person?”
“It’s hard to say what part of the aura came from the woman herself and what came from the image we all carry in our minds. I had seen her in so many different contexts.
She was the most influential woman in the world for many years — so I don’t know if it was literal magic, but it was delightful to watch Ezio Greggio, who attracts 20 million viewers during prime time on Italy’s Channel 5, hopping around her, stuttering, his voice trembling with excitement.
All of us swallowed our biographies, as the saying goes. We just wanted to worship her.
And there were big Italian stars in the cast who were even more overwhelmed than we were.”
A Legend Who Needed No Proof of Her Greatness
“I was surprised they let me take a few photos with my camera while we headed out to shoot the motorcade scene.
I expected them to forbid it, but she even said at the end: ‘Let’s take a picture all together.’ When a person knows their worth — and knows it is immense — they don’t need to prove anything. When you know you’re good at something, you don’t have to demonstrate it.”
“Did you speak Italian?”
“Yes, I acted in Italian, but the director was English, so we spoke both English and Italian.
When the group is mixed, we prefer speaking English. I talk to Italians in Italian, to English speakers in English… and sometimes it becomes chaos. I often switch languages without realizing it, and I can see from the other person’s confused face that I’m speaking the wrong language.
Lollobrigida had turned down many films before this one, but somehow she agreed to this. The protagonist wanders through many stories and ultimately encounters her — the embodiment of cinema itself — who tells him something like, ‘Calm down.’
She was here for two days. They brought her straight from the airport to set, and her assistant worried she wouldn’t have enough time to rest.”
“How would you describe her place in the world of cinema?”
“The truth is, when it comes to The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Esmeralda, I always imagine Gina — without hesitation.
Her face, her acting — even when I watch the Disney animation, I still imagine her somehow. From that point on, she became an icon for the Italians themselves. She is far beyond cinema.”
Cinema Then and Now — A Changing Language
“Is European cinema lost to the TikTok generation? Would they even be curious about these classics?”
“When people in Bulgaria complain about something, I always remind them that no problem exists here without also existing somewhere else — for example in Italy, in one form or another. Not long ago, they threw out Fellini’s old sets from a studio so performers with feathers could stage a show there.
Old films were exceptional for their time. And no national cinema besides the Italian one managed to reach Hollywood in terms of global fame — I’m talking about Fellini, Visconti — but that was then.
Many directors today make the mistake of trying to recreate films in the style of that era. The pacing, the symbols, the techniques, the metaphors — all of that belonged to the 70s and 80s. And those films were brilliant — far ahead of their time. But we mustn’t forget that we live in the 21st century.
Yes, many recent Marvel films have been superficial, but there is also incredibly valuable work being created — even in Hollywood.
Italian cinema had a quiet period, but then Sorrentino and Genovese emerged. Brilliant Spanish directors appeared as well. And the Mexicans — Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón. Roma contains everything from classic cinema yet is filmed in a modern way — and in black and white. The action sequence is remarkable.
I love Tarkovsky, but if someone today shot a 15-minute take of a jug falling and breaking, it probably wouldn’t impress me.”
Interview by Boryana Kolchagova
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