Hristo Hristov's films often deal with the emergence of a fantasy world in characters who are confronted with insurmountable realities of existence, either of nature or technology. Barrier is both a psychological and a fantastic tale chronicling the breakdown of a once-successful composer now faced with divorce, loneliness and artistic stagnation. Into his life comes a woman, Dorothea (“Gift of God” in Greek), who claims she can fly and proposes to him that they soar above their barriers, both symbolically and literally. The composer is played by Soviet actor Inokentiy Smoktunovski, who gained international recognition for his portrayal of Hamlet in Grigori Kozintsev's 1964 adaptation. Hristo's films include Iconostasis (see October 10) and A Tree Without Roots (October 17).