Laughter in Gabrovo

Bulgaria - one of Russia's staunchest allies - isn't usually thought of as a great source of jokes -yet it is Bulgaria that mounts a unique biennial laughter festival in the House of Humour and Satire in Gabrovo. From around the world wits and comics converge on this Balkan town to exhibit, judge, or simply discuss the serious business of humour. There were two British participants at the last festival. One was exhibiting, the other, 'Larry' of Punch, was a judge. This film tackles the weighty question of whether humour can leap national boundaries, whether the same joke can reduce communist and capitalist to the same helpless giggles.