“Whether or not Bulgaria would take part in the Second World War as an ally of Hitler on the Eastern Front is the backdrop of the film. In the foreground is the conflict between the authentic protagonists of that decision: the then-Czar Boris and one of his generals, Zaimov...a patriot and far-seeing politician who was able to recognize the shame that Bulgaria would feel by participating actively in the war on the side of Hitler.... The film has as a starting point the moral and psychological duel between General Zaimov and Boris....” (Ratschewa and Eder, Der Bulgarische Film, translated by Howard Feinstein, Museum of Modern Art). “(In The Peach Thief (October 3), Vulo Radev's) reserved, restrained and lyrical visual and spoken language was the film's most distinguishing quality. Radev used the same style in his next film, Tsar i general.... Although Radev broke a number of conventions in this film too, he was not able to candidly and thoroughly explore the film's historico-philosophical struggle. The time had not yet come for the public airing of such ideological conflicts” (Liehm & Liehm, The Most Important Art).