"Goodbye Mama", a movie directed by controversial Italian-based actress Michelle Bonev, has been described by Italian media as a complete failure.

The movie was released in 80 Italian theaters but earned a mere EUR 65 000 in the first days after its premiere, Deutsche Welle points out. Only 9 000 Italians dared to watch it.

"Pathetic" and "pretentious" are some of the words used to describe Bonev's movie, the Ansa agency goes further and calls it a "crime".

Ever since Bonev received the first ever "Action for Women'"award at the prestigious Venice movie fest in 2010,"'Farewell Mom'" had not been shown anywhere. The award itself, however, triggered massive media scandals in both Bulgaria and Italy, as it turned out to have been fabricated especially for her courtesy of her "friends", Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi, and former Culture Minister, Sando Bondi.

Bulgaria's Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov already accepted two resignations over the case, handed by Alexander Donev, head of the Bulgarian National Film Center and Bulgaria's Deputy Culture Minister, Dimitar Derelviev, as it turned out the country's state budget has contributed with BGN 300 000 for Bonev's 'mysterious' movie. A 40-strong Bulgarian delegation, headed by Rashidov, enjoyed a luxurious dinner party in Venice to celebrate Bonev's phantom award.

Italian taxpayers contributed with an additional EUR 1 M to the controversial movie.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!