A story that corresponds to the current needs of the Balkans, a film inspired by the short story "Obraz" (Legend of Nur Doka) by academician Zuvdija Hodžić, is being directed by Nikola Vukčević, and the premiere can be expected in early 2022, Vukčević announced at yesterday's press conference.
The project has been in preparation for more than five years, so the first scenes were filmed in the winter of 2018, and it is planned that the filming will be completed soon, considering that 85 of the total 88 scenes have already been completed. The film with the working title "Children" is a new feature film directed by Vukčević, written by Ana Vujadinović and Melina Pot, inspired by Hodžić's story "Face", produced by Milorad Radenović (Galileo production Montenegro) and co-produced with Cinnamon films Belgrade. The cast consists of some of the best regional names: Edon Rizvanoli from the Netherlands in the lead role, Nikola Ristanovski from Macedonia, Igor Benčina from Serbia, Alban Ujkaj - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Selman Jusifi and Xhejlane Terbunja from Kosovo, and there are Montenegrin actors Aleksandar Radulović , Ana Vučković, Zef Bato Dedivanović, Branimir Popović and talented children Elez Adžović, Vuk Bulajić, Hana Pavlović, Merisa Adžović - who got their roles after months of casting and preparations.
The film is set in the period of the Second World War, during which in the 24 hours of the film, a persecuted Orthodox child, trying to save himself from the fascist Muslim unit that killed his parents and burned the village, finds refuge in the house of the Albanian Nur Doka.
"The master of the house is faced with a moral dilemma: either to hand over the child to his persecutors (thus trampling on the centuries-old code of his people and personal beliefs) or to risk the lives of the entire family protecting that child - which turns this dilemma into a tragedy. Through the story of promise, love and growing up, the film examines the price of individual human sacrifice, through the prism of two different worlds: the world of honor and the world of war, going beyond the questions of religion and nation," states the description of the film, which has so far been filmed on locations in Stari Bar. , Crmnici, Kuč slopes, Mrtvice canyon...
Some of the last scenes were filmed "in the complicated circumstances of the covid-19 pandemic", and with the support of the Film Center of Serbia in the amount of 60.000 euros, the remaining scenes will also be filmed, but it will be necessary to provide an additional 20.000 euros, said Vukčević at the press conference. .
He points out that dignity and honor are the fundamental values of many societies and "no matter how these stories seem to be told - I am sure that they should be told constantly for the sake of the general interest".
"This anthology story - with its universality and all-time topicality, is close to all people, regardless of which national, ethnic or class group of society they belong to, which gives it additional value. Also, our scenario, without a doubt, goes in favor of affirming the specificity of minorities living in Montenegro, while on the other hand, it reminds us of universal human values that transcend the national, material, and even existential - as a permanent artistic document of the authenticity and virtue of these of space, a bridge to each other and a bridge between eras," said the director.
This film will present the authenticity of Montenegro, but above all tradition and culture. The resulting work of art, a general cultural asset, will preserve from oblivion the values and peculiarities of the people living in the border region of Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania...
"To act honorably, to keep a given promise, and even at the cost of life - is an example of a magnificent ego whose existence reminds us of the forgotten values of the deepest human feeling - the feeling of dignity and honor." Accordingly, by realizing the film, which stems from the foundations of being and spirituality of multi-religious Montenegro, which will deal with all these elements - we will fulfill our goal in the best way precisely by creating a quality work of art, with all production standards and in cooperation with relevant collaborators and authors - which, with a lot of effort, renunciation and their support - we gathered from the entire region", said Radenović.
The director of photography is Đorđe Stojiljković, the stage designer is Stanislav Nikičević, the costume designer is Lidija Jovanović, the masker is Nataša Sevčnikar, while Igor Vujović and Đoko Jablan are in charge of the tone. The editor of the film is Olga Toni, the director is Milorad Radenović, the Belgrade co-producers are Nevena Savić and Ivica Vidanović, and the executive producer is Jelena Filipović, a lecturer at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Cetinje. A certain number of students from FDU Cetinje were also hired.
Ristanovski: Things of universal importance
Ristanovski also addressed the audience via video, quoting Meša Selimović:
"We came to look into each other's sad eyes, because of the death of an innocent man, upset because of the crime. Because whoever kills a man is as if he killed all men. We have all been killed countless times my brothers have been killed, and we are horrified when they hit someone dearest to us. Maybe we should hate, but I can't. I don't have two hearts, one for hate, the other for love. What I have now knows only sadness".
Ristanovski emphasizes his deep conviction that this story makes sense and that it is always necessary to talk (again) about some things that are important for man as an individual and man with all his dilemmas and moral codes. Edon Rizvanoli, the main actor, also addressed the audience via video message. He pointed out that the whole process was difficult, but full of pleasure... He especially thanked the director for the trust shown.
"For me, this role was surprising. It is a character that faces extraordinary challenges, which means that it gave me an additional desire and, of course, a great pleasure, to face such a character. I hope that the whole team will have the opportunity to watch the premiere together in Montenegro", said Rizvanoli.
Bonus video:
