Proud Citizen

Proud Citizen is an intriguing tale of displacement and discovery, punctuated by humor and heartbreak. This indie drama, brought to life in 2014 by director Thom Southerland, features the amazing performances of Sami Allison, Blakeley Burger, and Ryan Case.

The film revolves around the story of Krasimira Stanimirova, played by Sami Allison, a Bulgarian playwright who wins second place in an international playwriting contest. Krasimira's reward is a trip to the United States, where she plans on attending the local community theater production of her award-winning play in Lexington, Kentucky. Experiencing America first-hand, in all its eccentricities and cultural nuances, becomes an opportunity for a stark contrast between the romantic vision she has of America and the reality she encounters.

Allison’s performance is authentic and moving. She portrays Krasimira as a headstrong woman full of curiosity and courage, moving through the film with a keen sense of humor and a deep thirst for understanding. Her arrival in Lexington sets the tone for the thread of cultural shock, misunderstanding, and miscommunication that persists throughout the film, exposing her to everyday life in the American South.

Blakeley Burger and Ryan Case both give fresh performances in their respective roles. Burger’s character gives a glimpse into the conflicting American identities, sometimes caught between the contemporary and the traditional image of America. Case's character, on the other hand, offers a vivid snapshot of the American dream from the perspective of the Will Rogers-esque character.

Proud Citizen is saturated with a rich tapestry of reality which escapes the typical cinematic stereotypes. There are no grand romantic interests or high-stakes conflict; instead, the narrative allows the audience to experience Krasimira's alienation and adjusting through subtlety in details, making it all the more relatable to any viewer who has experienced being in a new place or culture.

The film brings attention to the theme of American patriotism and cultural identity throughout Krasimira's journey, emphasizing the dichotomy between an outsider's black-and-white perspective of America versus the gray areas that residents navigate every day. This subtle exploration sets Proud Citizen apart from other culture-clash narratives, navigating the nuances of discovering American culture from deeply personal and humorous viewpoints.

The cinematography, too, deserves a mention. As the audience follows Krasimira through charming alleys, local theatres, and bustling streets, an honest portrait of Lexington, Kentucky, unfolds on screen. The director's choice seems aimed to allow the viewers to share in Krasimira's journey visually as well as emotionally.

Another crucial aspect that director Thom Southerland masterfully brought to this film is the narrative’s pacing. Krasimira's trip, which is meant to be a victory lap, takes on a different pace amidst the cultural differences and melancholic undercurrents of her voyage. A slow, thoughtful pacing augments these scenes well, giving viewers enough space to resonate with Krasimira's experiences.

Unexpected turns pop up as Krasimira navigates through her journey of self-discovery, meeting varied stereotypes and enduring unforeseen circumstances, providing several laughs along the way. Central to this, though, is the audience's near-tangible feeling of Krasimira's alienation—refreshingly honest and deeply moving.

In its essence, Proud Citizen is a poignant narrative disguised as a quotidian slice-of-life tale. It brings into focus a varied range of issues, including cultural differences, disillusionment, longing, and a fundamental human quest—to belong. And it does so with an air of simplicity laced with subtlety, which ensures to stay with the audience long after the credits roll.

All in all, Proud Citizen is a captivating, affecting, and insightful film that doesn't just entertain but also challenges its audience to confront the complexities of cultural identification through the lens of a foreigner. A proud Bulgarian in a sea of Kentuckians, Sami Allison's Krasimira grapples with and softly highlights the peculiarities of American culture. The result is an offbeat roundabout initiation into American life for Krasimira and a refreshing, seldom-explored thematic concern for the viewers—an experience that makes the film both entertaining and thought-provoking.