The film "Obraz" is a film for all times, for yesterday, for today, and for tomorrow. It is peaceful and must be interpreted in that way. It sends a clear message - that the things that have been repeated so many times in our region must never happen again.
This is what the actor said Aleksandar Radulović at yesterday's press conference, after the director's latest feature film was shown for the first time to a domestic audience at the Herceg Novi - Montenegro Film Festival the night before Nikola Vukčević.
The film is inspired by the short story "Face" (The Legend of Nur Doka) by academician Zuvdija Hodžić, and is based on the myth of heroism, which is deeply rooted in the collective consciousness of Montenegro, said the director.
"That myth simply demanded that a film be made in this day and age that would communicate with the audience, and it seems to me that in Herceg Novi that was very intense," said Vukčević.
The audience greeted the film with long applause and standing ovations at Kanli Tower, and it is the audience's reception and mutual communication that is particularly important for Vukčević.
Producer Milorad Radenović He said that they are proud of the fact that the film communicates with an international audience.
"We received confirmation of this at festivals held before the Montenegrin premiere - from Germany to Egypt, India, Italy and Spain. Although the context is Montenegrin and Balkan, the theme is universal, and I consider that to be the greatest success of this film," said Radenović.
Co-producer Ivica Vidanović He added that "Obraz" was not created "according to any pattern."
"That is probably one of the greatest qualities that will inscribe this film in golden letters in the cinematography of Montenegro and all the countries that participated in the process," Vidanović pointed out.
Vukčević recalled that the team worked on the project for eight years, which indicates the belief that there is a strong note of communication in the material and the event.
Director of Photography Đorđe Stojiljković He said that “Obraz” was the first feature film he started working on, and it premiered as his seventh feature project, due to a long process. He believes that the big challenge throughout all this time was to follow the continuity, stick to the characters and convey the sharpness and emotion, but that this was achieved.
Actor Edon Rizvanolli Speaking about his experience, he emphasized that the team he worked with and who helped him in his role was a mitigating factor for him.
"It was challenging to work on this film, not only because the character is complex and the situation is very complex, but also because we filmed for about four years. It was demanding, but with the help of Nikola and everyone else who worked on the film, it was all a little easier for me," said Rizvanolli.
He added that his real-life experience helped him identify with the character. When asked if his character carries a universal question about what it means to be human when everyone forgets their core values, Rizvanolli replied that “in the end, we all have, or should have, this dilemma of what it means to be human.”
"It's the moment when we understand the essence. For me, it means understanding that in the end we only have each other. It's important to help a person who is close, regardless of religion, nationality and all these divisions. That's what, for me, is most important," said Rizvanolli.
Radulović reminded that everyone should strive for this, "especially today, in a time that shapes us with speed and capitalist material satisfaction."
"We often stop being aware that there are other categories, those that actually make us human. We suppress the primal human urge to be good, and we are all born good. However, experience and circumstances often make a person monstrous. Abid, whom I play, is precisely the personification of that," said Radulović, admitting that his role was challenging, emphasizing that "great good is always quieter than small evil."
"Evil is aggressive, and it is the phenomenon of a black dot on white paper that becomes dominant, while the whiteness remains invisible. However, I believe that the time will come again when anger will be above all of us," said Radulović.
Co-writer Melina Pota Koljević She emphasized that she worked on the film with great pleasure, in collaboration with director Nikola Vukčević and Ana Vujadinovic, with whom she co-developed the script. The process was complex, with numerous versions and long conversations with the director, but this is precisely what contributed to the universality of the story. She particularly emphasized the importance of children in the film, but also in society in general.
"Our basic human values are defended by honest people, but also by children. Today, it is children who show which way to go. Unfortunately, we adults are often overwhelmed by negative emotions, so the survival of civilization begins to depend on the purest among us, which are children," said Pota Koljević.
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