Author's Notes
On Why Julie Is Jewish
(Personal view of the Author - VDK)
Public Consideration
The main character in the Work (Julie) is Jewish. Through her the author expresses his opinion that opposes rumors and speculations in circulation within the public space immediately after the attacks, that Jewish people had been warned in advance against going to work on that fatal day.
Since the day of the attacks, up to now, the author is convinced that there is no “Jewish conspiracy pertaining to the September 11th attacks” and that there has never been one; that among the victims were Jewish people and that their relatives have suffered from their loss as much as other Americans. The fictional character of Julie represents one such person. She suffers the loss of her lover Ron (father of her unborn baby), Ron’s colleague and friend Marcus and her cousin Tobias.
Author’s Professional Motivations
The Author has been sympathetic towards (and has collaborated on many occasions with) creative and talented artistic people of Jewish descent throughout his own 55 years of artistic development and career:
- In 1970, the distinguished Bulgarian musician Milcho Leviev personally awards the Author with the Grand Award for Composition in a song contest, thus inspiring him to further pursue a career in pop-symphonic music.
- In 1966-1967, the famous theatre director Leon Daniel (IMDb Biography) instills in him the aesthetic sense for a diversified form of theatre – “theatre without frames” – that later results in the creation of “9/11 Pop-Symphonic Musical Drama”. The Author is a recurring participant in theatrical plays directed by Leon Daniel for several seasons, performing as a member of the rock-band "Shturtzite" on the stage.
- In 1965 the Author and three other musicians found the band "The Sun Brothers" - a Beatles-like rock act, and become the de facto rock band pioneers in Bulgaria. Isaac Bourla is a bass-guitar player and at that time has great experience already as a professional musician.
Personal & Family Motivations
- In 1970-1980, Dimo Kissyov - novelist and father of the author, is banned from publishing his works by the communist regime, for having been an officer of the former Bulgarian king’s army. Only a few friends from the Jewish circle of intellectuals support Dimo. At that time, Benjamin Hannè, journalist and director of the state publishing house, at the risk of being fired, dares to publish several novels by Dimo Kissyov. Later, Benjamin Hannè is interviewed about his story as a Holocaust survivor and this video record is filed in the library of Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation.
