Croatia

The living and the dead

35mm - color – 87’
 
Direction: Kristijan Milić
Script: Josip Mlakić, based on his novel by the same name
Photography: Dragan Marković, Mirko Pivčević
Editing: Goran Guberović
Music: Andrija Milić
Cast: Filip Šovagović, Velibor Topić, Slaven Knezović, Marinko Prga, Borko Perić, Miro Barnjak, Božidar Orešković, Enes Vejzović, Izudin Bajrović, Ljubomir Jurković, Robert Roklicer, Zvonko Zečević, Dragan Šuvak, Nino Sorić, Nermin Omić
Producers: Igor A. Nola, Domagoj Pavić, Marijo Vukadin, Miro Barnjak
Production: Mainframe Production, Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT), RTV FBiH

SYNOPSIS

A group of six HVO soldiers are cut off from their troops after the start of Bosniak-Croatian conflict. They are forced to retreat to their troops’ position 15-20 Kilometres away trough patheless mountains. Their path leads them right next to the Serbian position, so they are forced to wait until sundown, watching the flames of burning house in the valley. The whole story is given through the eyes of a soldier – Tomo. In the secomd narrative, a dozen of domobrans, whit two Ustasha, are on the mission to destroy a group of partisans, resting after a battle on the same mountain area as in the first narrative. This story is given through the eyes of domobram Martin, (grandfather of Tomo from the first narrative). He is accompanied by two of this countrymen – Ferid and Stojan. In this part of the story, the most important character isUstasa Semin. Ferid depressed and desperate about his whole family being killed, tries to desert, but walks right into Partisans’ ambush. Trying to save Ferid, several domobrans are killed, among them Ferid and Stojan... 

THE DIRECTOR: KRISTIJAN MILIĆ

Kristijan Milić (Zagreb, 1969) graduated from film and TV directing at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. Since 2000 he has worked as a director, making commercials and music videos. In 2002, he directed a short film Sigurna kuca which won best debut and best cinematography (Mario Sablic) award at the Croatian Film Days and later became a part of the 24 sata (24 Hours) omnibus (together with Ravno do dna by Goran Kulenovic). It won Vjesnik's Breza award for the best debut achievement at the 2002 Pula Film Festival. The Living and the Dead is his first feature-length film.

FILMOGRAPHY

2002 Sigurna kuca (short)
2002 24 sata - 24 Hours, segment Sigurna kuca
2007 Zivi i mrtvi (The Living and the Dead)

SELECTED FESTIVAL AND AWARDS

54th Pula Film Festival – Golden Arenas for: Best Film, Best Director, Cinematography, Editing, Best Supporting Actor, Music and Sound Design