Milan Marić is one of the Serbian actors of the new generation who has recently been on the rise and is slowly becoming a well-known face and name throughout the region.
He first attracted attention through the TV series "Morning will change everything" and "Military Academy" two years ago, and he remains a frequent guest in our homes through small screens later through titles such as "Besa", "Zmurke" and " Civil servant”. He attracted attention in Europe as well, with a great title role in the biographical film about the famous Russian writer "Dovlatov", for which he received the "Shooting Stars" award last year, which draws attention to up-and-coming European talents.
He made headlines when it was announced that he would be playing the legendary folk singer Toma Zdravković in an upcoming film about him. Marić seems to be ideal for this role, because he is no stranger to playing famous historical figures: he portrayed Gavrilo Princip in the play "My grave is small" based on the text of Biljana Srbljanović and Danil Ilić in the film "I defended Young Bosnia", the writer Sergej Dovlatov, and Zoran Đinđić in the controversial theater play of the same name.
Regardless of the situation with the coronavirus, he has his hands full, and between projects he set aside some time to tell "Magazin" what he is working on, look back at the state of the regional film scene and the trend for Serbian actors to play in Russian productions, talk about his goals art, international projects and the inevitable impact of the coronavirus on culture.
It is obvious that you are quite busy these days, what and what are you working on in this period until the end of the year?
During this year, the theaters were in a special mode, we played less, but luckily, all the planned recordings managed to be carried out and completed. The audience has already seen the second season of "Civil servant", we are finishing filming the film and series about Tomi Zdravković. Immediately after that, I will join the team that has already started filming the second season of the "Besa" series.
You very quickly became a well-known name in this area, and even wider, considering your role in "Dovlatov" and the Shooting Star award. Is it just due to hard work, because we've seen you in a lot of titles lately, or some other factors?
I assume that the directors choose me and show their trust because they appreciate that I will play the assigned roles well, that they will get what they envisioned. Along with past work, directors use casting calls to evaluate an actor and his suitability for a specific role. It is important that the author's team is recognized, that it clicks, that both sides feel "this is it"...
When it comes to the movie "Dovlatov" - we are increasingly seeing Serbian actors in Russian movies; Do you see that relationship as something that will only get stronger and as a fertile ground for Serbian actors, will they flock to the East in the future, rather than the West, which was previously the preferred destination?
I think it is in the essence of every artist to be open and interested in international projects, for cooperation, exchange, connection, research, creation with different people and cultures, because such experiences enable personal development and breaking through one's own boundaries. I had the experience of working in Russia on the author's film "Dovlatov", which brought me international awards and recognition, but also very valuable regional experiences, in theater and film, which shaped and complemented me as an artist and a person. It is difficult to predict the exact direction things will take in the future, but what is evident is that large, monumental projects are increasingly being done through international co-productions, with the participation of creators from different countries, that the idea is what they gather around, that they use mutual differences as an advantage to enrich the work process and the final result.
Do you already have any offers and plans in perspective regarding work outside our premises?
I am playing in the play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" in the co-production of Ulysis Theater with Brion and BDP and I hope that we will continue the performances as soon as possible, because the audience throughout ex Yu received this play phenomenally. I have several castings for international projects planned for next year, but their realization will depend on the development of the health situation.
You said that it is important to build a secure regional platform in order to be able to experiment with genres and be competitive outside our borders. The series "Besa" in which you played is an example of such cooperation, do you see an even greater strengthening of those cultural ties ex Yu region in the future, are others also aware that this is necessary?
There is this awareness and I believe that there will be more regional cooperation in the future. We have many things in common, first of all a clear interest to mass and increase competitiveness through cooperation, but also the fact that we know local mentalities and cultures well, we share a similar sense of humor, our societies are of comparable size, facing similar problems. However, it is necessary to overcome stereotypes and deep wounds from the conflict past in our region, which still heavily burden and inhibit us.
You got the role of Tom Zdravković, how has the filming been so far? What do you think makes that man special, what would you like to emphasize in that story?
Filming of the film and series about Tom is slowly coming to an end. We did our best, the whole team, to revive an era and tell the story of a unique man and artist whose legacy lives on. We worked with great enthusiasm, we were not shaken by the responsibility and great expectations placed before us, but this pressure only consolidated us in our intention to do a great thing. If I had to summarize Tom's layered personality in just a few words, I would describe him as a poet of sadness, who lived everything he sang about. That is why he is trusted.
You often mention in interviews how important it is for you that art be engaging, cheeky, not overbearing... Is that also important to you when choosing roles, given that you have played some important figures who fought against the ruling system, such as the aforementioned Dovlatov , Đinđića, Principa?
The goal of art is to search for truth. To ask questions, to push out of the comfort zone, to encourage questioning. I approach each of my roles from that angle.
The series "Civil servant" is current, does this role sometimes make you wonder if we are all part of a puppet theater where someone from the shadows pulls our strings, even when we think we are doing what is right?
In "The Civil Servant" I play Lazar, a secret service agent who experiences multiple betrayals by the person and institution he trusts the most and which form the backbone of his life. Lazar is an action hero, but he is not a superhero. Traumas hurt him, he makes mistakes from them, makes bad choices, reconsiders himself... Although he found himself in many situations because others pulled the strings, Lazar nevertheless makes room for himself and acts in accordance with his own values and beliefs. It is painstaking, painful and risky, just like in real life.
How has everything that is happening with the coronavirus this year affected you and your everyday life and work? On the other hand, how do you see the impact of corona on culture and the state's response?
Corona caught us all by surprise, and changed all of our lives. How permanent, we'll see. When will we return to normal functioning, and what will the "new normal" mean for us artists, citizens, individuals - it is really difficult to give a complete answer to that. The fact is that digital forms of creation and presentation of works of art have gained momentum. Will digitization in culture and art remain this prevalent, what will happen to areas that cannot be digitized, will post-covid people remain physically and socially distant or will they have an increased need for closeness - these are all questions about which I think about, but to which I do not have a final answer today. I would like us to join developed societies and countries and start preparing for the post-covid reality.
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