The story of the ills of a conservative environment, humorously and anxiously told in the film "Roda", awakened the increasingly pronounced spirits of nationalism, primitivism, petty bourgeoisie and everything that runs counter to culture, prevents growth, development and togetherness - of local communities, young people, and Montenegro.
Contrary to everything that is the idea of this superb film achievement and the Džada Film Fest, on Wednesday evening the screening of the film "Roda" was interrupted, in the review, out-of-competition, program, on 27. marta Street in Zabjelo.
After a group of individuals "protested", and in fact, with shouting, insults and threats on a national basis, they prevented the audience and the festival from, as always, enjoying the latest productions in an open public space, where everyone is welcome, the screening was interrupted.
"Although we believe in freedom of artistic expression and the dialogue that the film can spark, we have decided to suspend the screening as a precaution. As an official duty, the police have responded to the scene," the organizers said.
The main reason, allegedly, is that the film is in Albanian - the language of the country that borders Montenegro and which a good part of the population speaks. The film is originally in Albanian, because the action is set in a small Montenegrin village near Albania. The translation, or "subtitle", is in "ours".
If the reason is language, then the cause is nationalism that has been fueled, justified, manipulated, silently ignored, or accepted as part of everyday life for years. The problem is in an atmosphere in which violence, of any kind, becomes a legitimate means of "defending identity," and diversity is seen as a threat.
The situation at Džada on Zabjelo was not changed by the police either. And so, the film was "only" interrupted and the audience dispersed. In a statement today, the organizers stressed that they were sorry for the "inconvenience" that occurred, but that they would continue "with the same enthusiasm and belief that a space for culture is a space for everyone."
Symbolically and visually, the scene on Djada depicts a small but noisy group of individuals whose idea of coexistence is only possible in pens with their own kind. They, however, overpower the idea of festival and art. It is, of course, more than just outrage and discomfort - a demonstration of power and arrogance that has turned a public space and an event intended for everyone into a zone of insecurity, with the message that "others" are not welcome. Euphemisms and minimizing the event by calling it an "unpleasantness" are actually silence and passivity in the face of what leads to extremism.
At the same time, the question arises as to whether and what kind of enthusiasm remains among the visitors of the event who witnessed the situation in Podgorica. They will return, for sure, just as storks return, but much remains to be seen after this event, because what was supposed to be a celebration of film and togetherness has turned into a reminder of our reality, dominated by the louder, the rawer, the more primitive.
Although less important, it is important to point out that "Roda" is a Montenegrin film, or rather a majority Montenegrin production, directed by the doyen Ise Cosje born in Montenegro, and whose producer is Ivan Đurović from Articulation of Film.
The plot of "Rode" is set in a small Montenegrin village on the border with Albania, and confronts viewers with universal themes and problems that still live on, such as the humiliation of women, trafficking in women, arranged marriages, identity, sexuality, suicide, expectations of the environment, existence, questions and re-examinations of a life that is consciously lived only in anticipation of death..., and whose echo constantly resonates in conservative communities, such as, apparently, the Montenegrin one.
"We would like to remind you that Džada is a story about togetherness, about watching films under the open sky, about respecting diversity and connecting people through film. At the same time, we thank the audience for their understanding and support," said the optimistic organizers.
DON'T MISS IT
The director doesn't look at a film based on nationality, he looks at the person and the environment.
Kosovo actor Shkumbin Istrefi excelled in his role, and in an interview with "Vijesti" after last year's premiere in Podgorica, he pointed out that this is probably the first Montenegrin film in the Albanian language, but that this should not be strange.
"Isa (the director) is originally from Montenegro, from Gusinje. He wanted to make a film about his village, for his own reasons, probably because of nostalgia and something that draws him to Gusinje. Isa is the type of director who does not look at art or film by nationality, and his films do not have that national trait either, especially the last ones he made. Maybe some of his films that he made in the former Yugoslavia have that national flavor, a little bit, but later and recently - no. He treats a person, treats people in an environment in which they live. To return to your question, I think it is very significant that his film received the support of the Film Center of Montenegro, since he is both a Kosovo director, but also a Montenegrin director, but also a Balkan director, and ultimately a world director," he said on that occasion.
Bonus video:
