I Can Barely Remember the Day
| Director | Leon Lucev |
| Producer | Ivana Ivisic – Everything works |
| Writer | Leon Lucev |
| Camera | Radislav Jovanov Gonzo |
| Editor | Ivana Fumic |
| Cast | Goran Bogdan, Nina Violic, Daria Lorenci Flatz, Sandro Miljus, Sonja Perkov, Zoe Lucev, Ela Lucev |
| Sound | Hrvoje Petek |
| Original Title | MALO SE SJECAM TOG DANA |
| Year | 2018 |
| Length | 21 min |
| Country | Croatia |
| Subtitles | English |
| Section | Short Films, Big Stories / Talents from the East |
| Screening | Saturday 9 November | 15:00 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag Sunday 10 November | 16:30 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag |
Renowned Croatian actor Leon Lucev has visited our festival several times and was always received with a huge appreciation for his acting performances. Now we’ll see him in another role – as a director. His debut premiered at the Locarno Film Festival. It won the Best Film Award at GoEast in Wiesbaden, and deals with family, pain and conflicting loyalties. Dutch Premiere
Synopsis
Goran’s youngest daughter, Zoe, is celebrating her tenth birthday. While family and friends are gathering and the party is kicking off, Goran receives a phone call with unwelcome news. Knowing that it would ruin the planned celebration, he hides the truth from everyone. He tries, with success, to play the perfect host – but one person senses the powerful emotions that are on the verge of tearing him apart. The director shows the feelings that protagonist cannot pronounce through cinematography, the choice of his stylistic devices and the excellent acting performances, emphasized the GoEast jury.
Director’s statement
I wrote and directed this film out of a very strong inner urge to communicate and share a moment of my life that had a disconcerting effect on me. The moment of losing my father, which collided with the birthday of my daughter. A moment that comprises both death and the celebration of life. Through the character of Goran and his actions, or the absence of them, I explored situations in which powerful inner emotions are juxtaposed or are in conflict with outer events. Feeling lost, a reflexive reaction to people around us, having a hard time letting go… As an author I perceived the end of the film as Goran’s real beginning. And the music is there to embody the path that is ahead of him. A path towards love.
Festivals & Awards (selection)
Locarno Film Festival, 2018 – World Premiere (Pardi di domani) | goEast, Festival of Central and Eastern European Film, Wiesbaden 2019 – RheinMain Short Film Award | Pancevo Film Festival, 2018 | Zagreb Film Festival, 2018 | CinEast, Luxembourg 2018 | Croatian Film Days, 2019 | Mediterranean Film Festival Split, 2019 | FeKK Ljubljana Short Film Festival, 2019
Director’s bio
Leon Lučev (1970) was born in Sibenik, Croatia. He graduated with an MA in screen acting from Zagreb University, Academy of Dramatic Art. His big-screen debut in Vinko Bresan’s feature film How the War Started on my Island in 1996 marked the beginning of a successful career in film and TV. He has over 60 screen credits as an actor, including leading roles in Grbavica / Esma’s Secret by Jasmila Zbanic, award-winner at the Berlinale 2006, Krugovi / Circles (2013) by Srdjan Golubovic, Muskarci ne placu / Men Don’t Cry by Alen Drljevic, award-winner at Karlovy Vary IFF 2017, and most recently in the critically acclaimed Teret / The Load by Ognjen Glavonic, which had its premiere at the Directors’ Fortnight 2018 in Cannes. Throughout his career, Leon has actively shared his knowledge and experience in numerous workshops for young actors, children and the wider creative professional community. I Can Barely Remember the Day is his first short film as screenwriter and director.