Once We Were Good for You
Branko Schmidt is a veteran of Croatian cinema with dozens of successful films in his filmography. Sharp, critical, brave and eloquent in its cinematic expression, he depicts in his latest film the destiny of Croatian war veterans and their dissatisfaction with their social status. The film won the Golden Arena for the Best Screenplay at Pula festival and brilliant Rene Bitorajac won the main award as the Best Actor.
Synopsis
25 years after the Croatian War of Independence, decorated war hero Dinko is bitterly disappointed with Croatia and life. His family has left him, and the country he fought for is plagued by poverty, corruption and emigration. When his fellow veterans stage a protest demanding the museum that the Government promised them, Dinko gets involved. Soon however young fascists join the protest and the violence escalates.
A BILI SMO VAM DOBRI
Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2021 | 72 min
DIRECTOR: Branko Schmidt
PRODUCTION: Stanislav Babic – Telefilm; Kazalisno-filmska udruga Oktavijan
CAST: Rene Bitorajac, Slaven Knezovic, Rakan Rushaidat, Goran Navojec
SCREENPLAY: Sandra Antolic, Ognjen Svilicic, Branko Schmidt
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dario Hacek
EDITING: Hrvoje Mrsic
SCREENING: Thursday 24.11. / 21:30h / Zaal 2 & Friday 25.11. / 20:45h / Zaal 5
The screening will be followed by Q&A with director Branko Schmidt. Dutch Premiere
Director’s bio
Branko Schmidt (Osijek, 1957) graduated in film and TV directing at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. He is an awarded director and has won numerous acknowledgments. He has directed many feature and documentary films and TV series. Select filmography: Sokol Did Not Like Him (1988), Đuka Begović (1991), Vukovar: The Way Home (1994), Christmas in Vienna (1997), The Old Oak Blues (2000), Queen of the Night (2001), The Melon Route (2006), Metastases (2009), Vegetarian Cannibal (2012), Ungiven (2015), Agape (2017)
Festivals & Awards (selection)
Pula Film Festival, 2021 – Golden Arena for Best Screenplay (Sandra Antolic, Ognjen Svilicic, Branko Schmidt); Golden Arena for Best Actor (Rene Bitorajac) | Mostar Film Festival, 2021 | FilmFestival Cottbus – Festival of East European Cinema, 2021 | International Film Festival of India, Goa 2021