The 15th Montenegrin human rights film festival "Ubrzaj" opened on Tuesday evening in Podgorica's Kulturno with a film that, through the prism of past tragedies, analyzes our present-day ability or inability to face the painful past, reminding us of the importance of memory, memory, talking and education. - information center "Budo Tomović".
In the touching and poignant documentary film "Memory of Novi Sad", the author Aleksandar Reljic tells the story of the crime known as the Novi Sad raid, following the protagonist, a professor of sociology Marija Vasić, who tries to pass on her knowledge, one's memory and experience to the younger generations, while at the same time researching whether she would not satisfy her own need for additional information, but also writes... She writes, in order to be recorded and passed on, because, as he says in the film, events that are not recorded and transmitted easily fall prey to oblivion.
The Novi Sad raid is an event from the Second World War, in January 1942, when the Hungarian occupying forces killed more than a thousand innocent people, Serbs, Jews and Roma, and threw their corpses into the ice-bound Danube. In addition to introducing many people to the terrible event, Reljić's documentary is not only a lesson in history, but also in life, responsibility and morality, it is not a direct retrospective of a terrible reality, but also an introspective investigation of collective memory and forgetting, it is not a criticism of society, but of government and a system that abuses the past.
"Teodor Kovač (99) Ivan Ivanji (93) and Martha Flato (80) survived the Novi Sad raid by Hungarian fascists in 1942, where 1.200 people were killed and thrown under the ice of the Danube. Marija Vasić, professor of sociology, fights against oblivion, while the local authorities intend to build an ethically questionable monument to all the victims of the war, which could imply the inclusion of the war criminals of the Novi Sad raid," the synopsis states.
A particularly important and strong figure in the film is Professor Vasić, who works tirelessly to preserve memories, spread knowledge, and awaken curiosity and awareness, all through the education of young people. But her target group is not only young people, there are also her friends, to whom, in an intimate circle every Tuesday at 19 p.m., in the home of one of them, she recounts the lessons she previously gave to her students. Those women of about 30-40-50 years old are attentively listening and commenting on the things that their friend tells them about, remembering the classes where these topics may have been covered... In addition to them, in the film we also witness that Vasić, with his mission of spreading knowledge about The Novi Sad raid and the Second World War are also taught to the elderly, members of the so-called third age. The elderly lady with an iron in her hand shows great interest in what Marija has to say, she is willing to read and, as you can see, she reads a lot, all the books Vasić recommends, gives her, lends her, and she cries out for additional information, stories, details ...
In this whole engagement, the heroism of this professor is special. Her story shows how an individual can oppose oblivion and slowly extend to others the diameter of preserving the past and memories, as well as the spectrum of interests. Marija inspires with her lectures and activism, reminding that remembering is not only a personal, but also a social responsibility. Through the lectures he gives, he talks about the important but silent heroes of the terrible war events, while in his free time he visits the survivors.
In addition to the strong figure and example of Marija Vasić, there are also stories of survivors with whom she contacts, but also invites to her classes, giving students the privilege to talk to them, to ask and find out. Teodor Kovač, Ivan Ivanji, Marta Flato, give voice to the faces of forgotten victims, and make the story real. Their valuable memories and destinies speak of the fragility of life, the power of the innocent to survive, they witness the confrontation with inhumanity, with pain and tragedy that usurp the unknown strength that lies in their nobility.
The film does not avoid controversial topics either, and controversies are usually where there is politics and where the government is... Thus, the film also deals with the topic of (attempts) to erect a monument to the innocent victims of 1944/45. year. On the planned monument, along with the names of the innocent, "somehow" the names of the perpetrators of the crime were also found, which met with strong opposition from the citizens. After protests and opposition, by which the citizens of Novi Sad showed their awareness of the danger of a superficial or unethical approach to memorialization, the installation of the monument was abandoned. The film, somewhere in that part, also criticizes the rhetoric of politicians who often talk about reconciliation, instead of coexistence, memory, peace...
The visual elements of the film also contribute to the complete impression, such as scenes of eerie silence along the frozen Danube or birds on bare branches, shots of snow, the river, silence, the clatter of boots, which enhance the emotional impression. The music, discreet but powerful, additionally emphasizes the atmosphere of tension, fear, sadness, but also respect for the victims. Reljić carefully balances historical facts, documentary and emotional narrative with everything, creating a work that simultaneously informs, shakes, encourages thinking, arouses emotions, empathy, tears...
"Memory of Novi Sad" is an important reminder of what happened, and the Novi Sad raid is only an allegory of many other fates and events, so this film is also a reminder of what can happen when a person ignores humanity and society ignores the past.
"What do we want to know and what do we want to remember?" is the question that Ivanji asks the young people in Marija Vasić's class, waiting for their questions... And that is exactly the question that everyone should ask themselves.
At the very end, the author of the film, Aleksandar Reljić, addressed the audience.
"Memory of Novi Sad is a film about a gruesome crime from 1942 known as the Novi Sad Raid, but it talks about the universal suffering of civilians, the confrontation, as well as today's ruthless political attitude of the ruling elites towards all of this, because they are able to trample people for the sake of cheap political alliances and points. by victims. This is another film about the culture of memory, but also about historical revisionism, which we are exposed to," he said.
Aleksandar Reljić was born in 1974 in Belgrade, Serbia, and traces his origins to Kotor. He is a journalist and the author of numerous television documentaries that mainly dealt with the topics of the culture of memory, war crimes, protection of human rights, xenophobia and inter-ethnic relations in the area of the former Yugoslavia. He is the author of the Documentary-Educational Program of Radio-Television of Vojvodina, and for two years he was the editor-in-chief of that newsroom. He has been awarded several times for his professional work. His film "Grandson" received several domestic and foreign awards and was nominated for the best European documentary film in 2018 at the Prix Europa festival in Berlin. In addition, his film "Mamula All Inclusive", which was shown at the "Ubrzaj" festival last year, was noticed. Since 2019, Reljić has been running the independent film production company Core Dox from Novi Sad, and with his work he continues to call for responsibility and humanity, to protect against forgetting, to face truths and consequences, no matter how painful they may be.
"We will continue and see you on Friday in front of the Gymnasium!"
The festival opened on Tuesday evening with the message: "See you on Friday in front of the Gymnasium!" which was sent by a young woman from the KIC stage Hana Raičević. She is in the presence of her grandmother, a long-time activist for human and women's rights, Ljiljana Raičević, received an award for the affirmation of human rights and civil activism in the individual category.
"Thank you for recognizing the importance of my grandmother's work and for reminding us in this way that her efforts have not been forgotten, even though she is no longer so active in society," said young Hana, who emphasized her pride in everything her grandmother had achieved.
"And that's why I say on your behalf and on my own - let's continue and see you on Friday in front of the Gymnasium!".
In the organization category, tireless women received the award: Ljiljana Vujović, Marija Radović, Bogdana Dašić, Snežana Kićović, Sonja Ličina, Ranka Kavaja, Jovana Marđokić, Nadežda Karsaeva, Aleksandra Gvozdenović Kosović and Marija Vujacić, from the non-governmental association Žene Bara.
"The women of Bar are dreamers of a better life for every man in need, no matter who he is. For almost seven years, we have been creating a golden ring of empathy around the city of Bar. We are those women who put shoes on, dress them, get them ready for school, help with treatment, build houses, accept newborns, see those left behind and forgotten in their old age to eternal rest in a more beautiful and happier world", said Vujović, who spoke on behalf of NVU Women Bar.
"We are trying and will try to preserve the dignity and protect the rights of the unfortunate man. These are the people to whom we are dedicating this award tonight, and it is also a sign that we are on the right path and that we are not alone on that path - you are also with us", she said, in front of the members of the organization who were also with her.
At the opening, the executive director of CGO addressed the attendees Daliborka Uljarević, President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović, head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro Johan Satler.
Bonus video:
