On the Water
| Director | Goran Devic |
| Producer | Hrvoje Osvadic – Petnaesta umjetnost |
| Writer | Goran Devic |
| Camera | Damian Nenadic |
| Editor | Jan Klemsche, Vanja Sirucek |
| Sound | Martin Semencic |
| Original Title | NA VODI |
| Year | 2018 |
| Length | 79 min |
| Country | Croatia |
| Subtitles | English |
| Section | Documentaries Open Debates |
| Screening | Sunday 10 November | 13:00 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag |
In this touching documentary, Goran Devic captures poetic visuals of his hometown in Croatia that was once a thriving multinational community. Critics proclaim “On the Water” as one of his best achievements and the jury of the DOK Leipzig honoured him because it ‘’beautifully shows that despite the trauma and the scars of war, humanity and survival transcend’’. Dutch Premiere
Synopsis
A human story of the former industrial city of Sisak told through the rivers that pass through its centre. Today, the rivers are places of relaxation and leisure. However, when we meet people who appear on the water or riverside, the social conflicts of a country in transition arise in all directions. Sometimes the river reveals the remains of past that left traces in the water. Even though Yugoslavian civil war was more than two decades ago, this historic period seems like a parallel reality which throws its shadows over the protagonists. What will remain behind us?
Festivals & Awards (selection)
DOK Leipzig, 2018 – Honorary Mention (International Premiere) | Croatian Film Days 2019 – Best Cinematography | UnderhillFest, Montenegro 2019 – Special Jury Mention | DocAviv, Tel Aviv International Documentary FF 2019 | Freiburger film forum 2019 | Liburnia Film Festival 2019 – Best Directing, Best Sound Design | DokuFest, Prizren 2019 – Special Jury Mention
Director’s bio
Goran Dević was born in 1971 in Sisak, Croatia. He studied law, archaeology and film art at Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb, Croatia. His filmography includes several award-winning documentaries and shorts, among others: Imported Crows (2004), I Have Nothing Nice to Say to You (2005), Three (2008), Happy Land (2009), Don Juan: Excuse Me Miss (2010), Flood (2010), Two Furnaces for Udarnik Josip Trojko (2012). The Blacks (2009), co-directed by Zvonimir Jurić, was his first feature narrative. Goran is the founder of 15th Art Production (Petnaesta umjetnost) – a film production company. He teaches documentary film at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. He lives and works in Zagreb.