Messages of love and care or criticism for spreading a bad image of the city?

Director of the play "Agreement", based on the motifs Nusic's "Grieved families", Minja Novakovic claims that she did not agree to change part of the text, which was requested of her by the management of the Cultural Center in Bijelo Polje.

In a statement sent to the media, Novaković said that the adaptation of the play is reflected in the context of Bijelo Polje, which represents a conscious authorial and directorial process and is an integral part of the artistic concept.

In a response to "Vijesti", the Cultural Center stated that the play was going as the director had envisioned and that the production did not agree with some of the views and message the play sends about Bijelo Polje.

The text, among other things, talks about air pollution, the departure of young people, the collapse of factories, economic insecurity, while criticizing political elites ("the air that is checked first", "The tin is cold as a tin grave"), mentioning the departure of young people to Germany and betting shops, as well as the final rap section criticizing politicians ("Politicians come before the elections and then they know every street, afterwards they are gone").

"I believe that the author must have the right to shape his work without conditioning and subsequent changes to determine whether the play will be performed or not. For this reason, I have maintained my position of not changing the text of the play, and I have left the final decision on its performance to the organizers and competent persons. The people who should make the decision have not yet seen fit to send an official decision, given that today is the premiere date. I believe that artistic freedom and the autonomy of the author must remain the foundation of any serious cultural activity," the author claims.

In response to "Vijesti", the artistic director of the Center for Culture Drazen Konatar He reminded that thousands of actors and other theater creators have passed through the festival, which has lasted for six decades, and that during all that time there has not been the slightest problem, either in terms of organization or programming.

"Our goal has always been and remains the same - the affirmation of amateur dramatics in Montenegro, the expansion of its base and the gathering of theater lovers, opening up new vistas of theatrical creativity for them. We have been doing this all these years and continue to do so with the same enthusiasm today. The festival was and remains a space for free and critical thought, but also a place to promote our city as a city of culture, poets, writers and painters. At the same time, it represents a barrier to any form of hatred, intolerance, as well as any politicization and political influence on its program. It often happens in theater that the views and opinions of the production, as well as the message being sent, do not correspond to the views of the director, but the final judgment, as always, will be made by the audience. We believe that this year's edition will also bring new values ​​to the theater offer and therefore we are eagerly awaiting the start of the festival, with a warm welcome to all ensembles and the audience," said Konatar.