The eighth Cyrillic Festival continued last night in the church of Santa Maria in Punta in the Old Town with the premiere screening of the film "The Dragon of Budva" by professors Božena Jelušić and Slaven Vilus. The film tells the story of an authentic Budva delicacy - dragon cake, a traditional method of preparation, but also sheds light on the wider context regarding an inseparable part of the local intangible cultural heritage.
The dragon cake as a cultural asset belongs not only to the local heritage but also to the wider Mediterranean heritage due to its unique shape and discreetly different taste, bringing to light the deepest archetypal layers related to the Mediterranean being of the city, Greek, Illyrian and Slovenian traditions.
On the one hand, the author's intention was to dispel the mystification of dragon cake, so that young housewives would learn to prepare it and so that the cake would not disappear with the passing of the older generations. On the other hand, the film represents the continuation of the struggle to preserve Budva's identity.
The film's co-director, cinematographer and editor Slaven Vilus demonstrates an exceptional visual sensibility for the spirit of the city, its details and traces of tradition, and Božena Jelušić step by step reveals the method of preparation that housewives often kept a nice feminine secret.
In addition to Professor Jelušić, fellow citizens Ljerka Dragičević and Đurđevka Đeka Bak also speak in the film.
The movie "Budva Dragon" is also another step forward in the popularization of this delicacy, the recipe of which was first published in 1996 in the book "How Budva Dreamed of the Mediterranean", by Božena Jelušić and Mata Jelušić.
Filming the story of the dragon cake is certainly the most reliable way to save the recipe from being forgotten for all time, since the film shows all the stages of preparation, from gathering the necessary ingredients to the baking method. In this way, it is ensured that the recipe, instead of exclusively oral traditions, reaches new generations in this popular and accessible way.
Important information is that the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Property of Montenegro considered and accepted the initiative of Professor Jelušić on establishing the protection of the intangible property of making the Dragon Cake in Budva.
Despite the heavy rain in the evening, the audience attended this program in large numbers. After the screening, the authors were rewarded with several minutes of applause, followed by their short address.
"It seems to me that we have a beautiful story here that we should use. We don't need to keep it a secret, because knowledge is the only wealth that increases by spreading it. Here in this city, something from the very distant past slipped right through some incredible time funnel. And that should be preserved, valorized and shared with everyone. And it seems to me that now it will be easier for everyone to prepare a dragon cake. Thank you to everyone who participated and provided support in the making of this film", said Professor Jelušić after the screening.
She also recalled the promotion of the book "How Budva dreamed of the Mediterranean" which took place in 1996 on the Square between churches.
"You saw how crowded it was at that promotion. The city knew then that it was living in a good way. I'm sorry that he can't do that now, but it seems to me that we can all do at least a little bit. Let it be one cake that will be protected, and there is much more in the book that can be protected", stated Jelušić, especially thanking Mile Todorović, who recorded the entire promotion on tape in 1996, Miloš Boreta and co-author Slaven Vilus.
After the film screening, all those present could taste the dragon cake.
The eighth "Ćirilicom" Festival is organized until September 14 by the Budva National Library and the Association of Publishers and Booksellers of Montenegro, with the support of the Municipality of Budva, the Tourism Organization of the Municipality of Budva and the Public Enterprise for the Management of Marine Assets.
Bonus video:
