I am not one of those who like to complain about Montenegrin culture, even when things are not going well. I believe in the active principle: it is important to do, the act legitimizes more fundamentally than anything else.
Another reason: the current kukač choir seems sad precisely because the singers of that choir made a key mistake (or whatever): they allowed the issue of the cultural model to be an exclusively party issue, or in the function of one party, that is, the political-economic elite. Even if it made it possible for them (or some of them) to profitably parasitize in the manger of the Ministry of Culture, the calculation was certainly bad for society. When the cultural model in a society is not a matter of consensus but of party competition, then we cannot talk about a cultural model.
So, beyond such frustrations: the situation is catastrophic with a tendency to get worse.
News that the director Andro Martinović is no longer at the head of the Montenegrin Cinematheque is one of a series of similar news that has been catching up with us these months. Expired mandate, they say.
In the past period, Martinović turned the Cinematheque into an exemplary institution. One of the focal points of cultural, above all film life. Great forums, thoughtful programs, meetings with exceptional creators, all that is chronically lacking in Montenegrin culture, the Kinoteka showed during Martinović's mandate. And, even such a good functioning of an institution, I emphasize - above all Montenegrin working standards - was not a recommendation for the young director to continue doing what he does so well. Revanchism? No matter what... Or just plain evil intent? Because, when we make everything a parody, it will be a legitimate question - why? Then it's better that - we don't exist. And so on…
The Cinematheque is one of the relatively young national institutions. Until now, it has been led by serious creators of different generations - Gojko Kastartović, Branko Baletic and Andro Martinović. Martinović is the author of the film "Between Day and Night", one of the three best films that Montenegrin cinematography produced in this century. The film earned serious compliments - both at important international festivals and from the most lucid critics.
And someone thinks that it is logical for that series to be continued by someone for whom the recommendation of photos with is key Metropolitan Joaniki? It seems that he has a stronger touch with the minister than having a picture with Bertolucci. And, in addition, someone who draws dangerous rhetoric with desirable and undesirable surnames at the first objections?
The devastating effect of the current minister on education and especially culture is enormous, and it will not be easy to undo the effects of this kind of dilettantism. If we wake up tomorrow in an ideal Montenegro, it will take years for things to fall into place. The Palaná genie has been released from the bottle...
Unworthy personnel decisions (excluding the new managers of the CNP and CSU), show this new elite as doubly dilettante: they cannot find the right people, but they want to change everything, even for the worse.
Why am I excluding Mr Marko Baćović, the new head of the national theater? It is quite possible to imagine him as a significant artist in that place and in normal society, but most of the remaining personnel solutions in cultural institutions cannot pass such a test. This is especially visible in the case of institutions such as the Cinematheque or the Film Center. Which, let's repeat, were among the most dynamic active institutions, which very quickly found a common language with European partners and thanks to that contributed to international cooperation that was unimaginable until yesterday.
Of course, such shifts were at any cost, despite the results, logic, and even good manners.
And finally, it is important to understand: it is naive to believe that control of the security sector can preserve Montenegro as a pro-European and multicultural community.
The worst thing that could happen to Montenegrin culture just happened: from the commissar-pariah phase, it entered the clerical-conservative one. Not even God can help her now.
Bonus video:
