The Secret Book

When a French scholar named Guy Chevalier arrives in Macedonia to track down the elusive Secret Book of the Bogomils, his search turns strange and personal. The landscape, local rumors, and a persistent presence claiming to guard the manuscript unsettle him. As strange events pile up and unknown figures shadow his steps, Guy's sense of who he is starts to fray, memory and motive blurring into suspicion and fear. The film follows his unraveling in tight, often unsettling scenes that keep the mystery alive without resolving every question, focusing on mood and the erosion of identity rather than clear answers.

Directed by Vlado Cvetanovski and released in 2006, the film was created by Ljube Cvetanovski and Jordan Plevnes, and features Jean-Claude Carri re, Thierry Frémont, Labina Mitevska, Vlado Jovanovski, and Kiril Ristoski.

Commercial box office figures for this title are not widely reported, suggesting the picture saw limited theatrical exposure and circulated mainly in select festivals and art house venues rather than mainstream multiplexes.

Although not a mainstream hit, the movie drew attention to the obscure Bogomil religious tradition and Macedonia's cultural landscape, prompting niche interest among viewers curious about Balkan history and folklore. Its use of local settings and the motif of a forbidden text helped it stand out to regional audiences and scholars exploring historical heresies.

Critical response has been mixed, with an average user rating reflecting divided opinions. Viewers often point to strong performances, especially from Thierry Frémont and Jean-Claude Carri re, and to the film's oppressive atmosphere. Others found its pacing slow and its ambiguity frustrating. Thematically it focuses on obsession, the instability of memory, and how myth can alter perception, favoring mood over tidy explanation.