What is wonderful is my master's silenceDirector Ivan Salatić's second feature film will have its world premiere in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) from January 30 to February 2. 9. THR An exclusive trailer for a cinematic reflection on identity, displacement and home can be seen here.
The film, written and directed by Saratic, stars Marko Pogačar, the contemporary Croatian poet and the most translated Croatian poet in his film debut, Luca Petrone Luka Petrone, Jakov Zovko and Vanja Matic also star in the film.
The film is set in 19th-century Montenegro, "where a tribe led by a poet and a bishop named Morak (Pogačar) is locked in a long struggle against a common enemy," according to the synopsis. "When Morak fell seriously ill, he left his war-torn homeland and set out in search of a cure. Together with his daughter and two loyal servants, Morak settled in a remote house in southern Italy in the hope of finding a cure. Healing and Peace.”
His most loyal companion, Zuko (played by Petrone), is torn between duty and homesickness and is "consumed by deep nostalgia, paranoia and fear," according to the plot description. "His mentor is dying far from home, and as Morak grows closer to a visiting scholar and his jealousy grows, Zuko's mind begins to unravel, pushing his endurance and imagination to the limit. Towards the limit.”
You can check out the trailer at the bottom of this article, which gives you a glimpse into the poetic style of the film.
“My starting point is also an important historical figure in Montenegro, Petar II Petrovich Negos, who was a poet, ruler and bishop,” Saratic said. "Throughout the 20th century, he was championed by communists and nationalists alike, who used him to suit their own narratives. He became a mythical figure, shrouded in mystery and considered one of Yugoslavia's best writers. one."
He added: "The film relies on factual elements and it was important to me to start with something that was rooted in factual elements and then allow myself the freedom to think and use my imagination - and that, I think, is what cinema is. The essence of the producer's craft is that even though it features real historical figures, it's not about claiming historical accuracy, but about approaching it with a sense of fun."
Viewers need not be familiar with historical details. “Even if the historical figure is unfamiliar, the emotions and dynamics between the characters—like between a master and a servant, a father and a daughter, or a disappointed old man who is in some way an archetype and dynamics — it’s all familiar,” he said. "It was interesting to portray such a political entourage in the film, who have clear, almost schematic roles or positions in terms of culture, ideology and history. At the same time, their dynamics are not unlike the typical dysfunctional families on the tour The dynamics are very similar.”
Saratic, who studied at the Academy of Fine and Applied Arts in Belgrade and received an MA in Film Studies at HFBK Hamburg, premiered his short film backyard 2015 Venice International Film Festival Orizzonti Section. His feature film debut, you have nightThis fable about the end of the European working class also premiered in Venice as part of International Film Critics Week 2018. This marks the first time a Montenegrin film has been selected for the project.
The Belgrade-based filmmaker co-founded Meander Film, a Montenegro-based production company that produced his second feature film.
What is wonderful is my master's silence Produced by Jelena Angelovski and Dušan Kasalica for Meander Film, co-produced with Jasmina Sijerčić (Bocalupo Films, France), Ines Vasiljević and Stefano Sardo (Nightswim, Italy), Tena Gojić (Dinaridi Film, Croatia), Dragana Jovović, Stefan Ivančić and Ognjen Glavonić (Non-Aligned Films, Serbia) and Boris Raonic (RTCG, Montenegro).
Watch the trailer for the film below.