Happy country
Sretna zemlja
Happy country
Croatia 2008
directed by
Goran Dević
screenplay
Goran Dević
cinematography
Almir Fakić, Jure Černec, Mario Oljača, Tamara Cesarec
music
Jura Ferina, Pavle Miholjević
sound
Hrvoje Grill, Zoran Rački
editing
Vanja Siruček
cast -
producer Vanja Jambrović, Goran Dević
production Petnaesta umjetnost
world sales
Petnaesta umjetnost
Domagojeva 14 10000 Zagreb Croatia
format
Digibeta, barvni/colour
running time
50'
When preparing to leave, entering the bus, patiently listening to a nervous leader of the tour and being late each time leaving the stops by the main road, passengers on both busses seem completely alike. They both have snacks with them and children on back seats. The aim of their travel is the main ideological difference among them. Old ustašas (German collaborators during the 2nd world war) are travelling on a commemoration in Bleiburg, old partisans, on the other hand, travel on Day of youth in Kumrovec. This documentary shows the whole Croatia in small. Film makers had to show a chameleonic capability of being part of the action without stating their own opinion, which would move them from the position as makers of a documentary. Film, mostly shot during the ride, seems like a travel in the past, which is kept alive because some of the perpetual fanatic quarrels between ustašas and partisans.
»This is a trap for every documentarist. How to keep a distance from things on which you are making your film, and keep trust of those, who are in front of the camera. I used method of the fly on the wall; there is absolutely no interview, I didn't ask or try to interfere with them in any way. « (Goran Dević)
Goran Dević
He was born in 1974 in Sisak, and today he lives and works in Zagreb. He was accepted in Academy for dramatic arts in Zagreb in his eighth attempt. He absolved law and archeology at the same university. Before the film Tri, he filmed documentaries Jesam li se zajebo (2003), Uvozne Vrane (2004) and Nemam ti šta reć’ lijepo (2006). This year he presented a feature film Crnci, made in collaboration with Zvonimir Jurić.
