CINEMA C " N •" D "

An industry in turmoil Yugoslavian cinema in the '80s

BY PAULE LA ROCHE

ugoslavia, the small non-aligned The Dream, and The Morning at that time. country which Josip Broz Tito ruled Unfortunately, the number of prGcluced for nearly 40 years, is presently going does not guarantee quality. The wen-respected through one of the worst economic Yugoslavian critic, Branko Manutic, to and social crises of its history. In the whom the directors of the Ycafes, on the streets, in the homes, at all levels, entrusted the writing of the introduction to its the economic situation is the main topic of programme, does not hesitate to say that "There conversation. Concern over material problems have never been so many films, nor such . has far surpassed all other matters, intenectua1 mediocrity!" or artistic. This, however, has not stopped Daniele This concern is justified. In the past two years Cauchard, vice-president of the Montreal World the dinar has fallen dramatically: in 1978 one Film Festival, from choosing about a dozen Canadian dollar could buy 17 dinars, in 1986 the extremely interesting, if not excellent, Djordje Milojevic, director of Centar Film with Svetlana Banoveanen, same amount bought 300. Today the Canadian Yugoslavian feature films for the 1987 and 1988 vice-pre.ident of the .ame company tourist arriving in this beautiful country of sun MWFF. Montreal audiences will have the md~aqmcldybecomesarrWliorurure,recciving opportunity to discover today's Yugoslavian more than 2,200 dinars for each of his Canadian cinema through its best recent films, including dollars. Foreigners have a good life in those of Srdjan Karanovic The Film Without a , but for the Yugoslavs it's another Name, and Krsto Papit sMy Uncle's Legacy, both story. How can you make ends meet with a in this year's offical competition. monthly sa1ary of $100. 00 when inflation can rise 300 per cent in a month ? Papit s legacy The socialist system is cracking and the Papic is already known to the Montreal public. situation is catastrophic on all fronts. People His film Village Performance of Hamlet was make do, having thcir own little tricks for presented in the early days of the Montreal Film escaping the mry around them. Among the Festival. My Uncle's Legacy has just won all the ruling class, scandal and corruption have honours of the Pula competition: the Jury's Director Veljko Gulajic on the .et of hi. film The Col/ector reached new highs. Canadian and the Grand Prix, the Audience Prize, and the Critics' intemational press have heard about the big Prize. Such unanimity has rarely been seen at corruption scandals which have shaken the Pula Festival, which this year was once again Yugoslavia, for instance that of "Agrokomerc . .. rife with disputes and conflicting ideas. The triumph of Papif s film is that is represents a Arecord year victory over conformity and the establishment. But despite the apparent anarchy and the gravity In order to understand the importance of the of the situation, the Yugoslavian film industry three prizes Papic won, one must first know has been able to pull through as never before. something of the struggle he had getting the film During the Yugoslavian Film Festival in Pula, into production: Before My Uncle's Legacy was which this year celebrated its 35th anniversary, shown to some 12,000 at the Vespasian Arena, the participants were able to view some 37 films the producer had to fight the Yugoslavian produc~ during the 1987-88 season. This is a political and judiciary systems. It was only after record unmatched since 1967, the g()lden age of numerous legal proceedings - he went up to the Gojko Ka.tranovic and Bronko Galetlc, of Avala Film, producer. of The Film Without a Name, in competition at the Montreal Fe.tival Yugoslavian cinema, the era of the "film noir" equivalent of our Supreme Court - that Papic during which Aleksandar Petrovic won the was finally able to win his case against the Palme d'Or at Cannes for his film The Feather Veterans' Association, which had tried to Collectors, the era which also enabled us to prevent him from shooting the film. Luckily, he discover Du§an Makavejev with Mm Is Not aBird had the backing of , the largest as well as PuriSa Djordjovic wh() produced his Yugoslavian film company, located in , most beautiful revolutionary poems, The Girl, . He was also supported by the ministry of culture of that republic: SIZ. One cannot help but be reminded of the troubles the National Film Board had with its film about Billy Bishop, a subject of similar controversy as a result of pressure from Canadian veterans' associations. PaulelA RDche is ajournalistfurmerly with Ottawa's In the film, My Uncle's Legacy, it is not a war F,tne!'-languilge dIlily Le Droit and currently , hero who is under fire, but rather an entire Film and TV critic Mira Boglie with Ivan 5alieic, film theorist and publicist TIIOrking lIS Qfreelance writer. system, a socialist system which characterized

...,....1 ... (INUIA CANADA PAGI gJ CINEMA CAN • A D A

Mustafa Nadarevic and Anica Dobra In Reflections, directed by Goran A man and a woman - take two. From DeJan Sorak's The Office, with II Ros. Markovic itseU in the past by obscurantism: first in the one get things moving? How does one change is why the older generation still prefer Since 1944, Yugoslavia has imported 2,341 '50s, as depicted in Papits film, then again in the situation? In the south, people shrug their Yugoslavian films. " MikajleC's comments are films from the United States and during the the early '70s, when filmmakers such as Sasa shoulders, in (the capital), despite the obviously cynical. One need only take a look at same period the United States bought only 117 Petrovic, Makavojev, and others, were forced to heat, large numbers of workers demonstrate in the statistics and the Yugoslavian cinema's Yugoslavian films . This is very little considering find refuge outside Yugoslavia in order to carry the streets. Socialism is wavering. When can surruner programme to appreciate the strength that Yugoslavia produced f:IJJ full-length films on freely with their profession. In rewarding one expect true democracy, leadership chosen of the American hold over the Yugoslavian film during the 1945-1978 period. Papit s film, the Pula Festival acknowledged and elected by the people? industry. On the other hand, only 37 Canadian films freedom of speech and the end of the blind From Dubrovnik to , there are nothing have been shown in Yugoslavia over the past 40 censorship which nearly sounded the death U. S. imperialism at the movies but American films on the bill, with the years, while during the same period Canada has knell for the Yugoslavian film industry 15 years And what of the film industry? The tentacles of exception ofa few Italian "B" films and some old imported 147 Yugoslavian films. The selection of ago. Yugoslavian cinema is still searching for an American imperiaJism are everywhere in Yugoslavian war films. The titles : Footloose, Canadian films in Yugoslavia is heterogeneous. identity, a new direction, as indeed is the Yugoslavia, as can be seen in the movie theatres Friday the 13th, Lethal Weapon, and Amadeus. For the most part, those films shown have been country itseU. as well as in the international coproductions: the very commercial: Porky's, Meatballs, Visiting r0 fully understand the problems that face the first American film shot in Yugoslavia was Cinema history taught at school Hours. However, on television there has been a government, at all levels, one has to be aware of Normand Jewison's Fiddler on the Roof. Most of Despite this, young Yugoslavians know their better sampling of our cinema: Who has seen the the complex geographical and historical the producers an directors whom [ met did not . local film industry well, most especially in Serbia Wind?, OneMm, LauraienaturedeBemadette, 'I71t background of the country. appear overly worried about this situation. A where the cult of Yugoslavian film stars Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and Rtjeanne case in point is Jadran Film of Zagreb, which is abounds. Each young person I asked to talk Padovani. The Yugoslavian mosaic the largest film company in Yugoslavia but not about the Yugoslavian cinema, no matter his Svetlana Banovi'anen, artistic director Yugoslavia is a socialist federation comprised of the largest producer of Yugoslavian films. They educational background, was able to list an responsible for import-export at Centar Film in six republics and two autonomous prOvinces. produce about 10 hours of domestic films each impressive number of titles of Yugoslavian films Belgrade, insists that the company is buying The country has three official languages, two year as compared with 30 hours of coproduc­ he had seen,as well as the stars involved. This is more and more Canadian films. "We are the best alphabets, and dozens of ethnic groups, with tions, and other international services, as well as not surprising, since the legacy of the film distributor of Canadian films," she says, each group wanting to protect its culture and commercials and short films. It was at Jadran industry is protected by teaching the subject in mentioning a few of the more recent additions to rights. Compared with this situation, our own that some of the shooting of Sophie's Choice took high school. Predrag Golubovic, director of the their catalogue: JoshUil Then and Nuw, l.t dic/in de linguistic and bicultural issues seem less critical. place. High Road to China is a coproduction of Film Institute in Belgrade says, "Yugoslavia is l' empire am&icain, Equinoxe, Pouvoir Intime, Under this mosaic of cultures and peoples lie Jadran as are The Winds of War and The Race to the one of the rare countries in the world, and Atlantic City and Us Plouffe. thousands of years of history: The r urks ruled Bomb, the latter being a Yugoslavian, Canadian, certainly the first, to have included the history of the Balkans for 500 years; later came domination and French coproduction. At present, Jadran is cinema in the compulsory school curriculum. " Inflation and production costs by the Austro-Hungarian Empire which lasted involved with ABC in the production of a The same carmot be said about Canada. For The devaluation of the dinar has greatly until the end of WWl in 1918. Yugoslavia, 33-hour series entitled, War and Remembrance. example, studies carried out by the Association complicated the lives of film distribution ("country of the southern Slavs"), was first a Mihajlec Zdravko, the administrative director des Cinemas Paralleles in Quebec showed the companies. With its network reaching some 92 monarchy, becoming a federation of socialist of Jadran Film, explains : "We finance our nagrant ignorance of young Quebecers, not to towns, Centar Film has good buying power. Out states in 1946. In 1953 it completely broke away domestic production by offering various services mention the indifference they showed toward of 1,271 movie theatres in Yugoslavia, they are from the Communist bloc. to foreign countries and by participating in their native cinema. associated with between 400 and 500 of them. This country of ancient roots is nevertheless a international coproductions. " He admits that But Yugoslavian youth know the American Their arumal presentations include four or five young modern state. Yugoslavia today can be the young people are addicted to American films film industry as well as they know their own. domestic films and between 12 and 25 foreign compared with a volcano about to erupt, a and he deplores the fact that films have become Why should this be the case? Yugoslavia's films. a distraction, "a circus, a cabaret. " "Fortunately bubbling cauldron of a thousand-and-one population is the same as Canada's - 25 million. Svetlana Banovi'anen says, "The most trends, a thousand-and-one leanings. In this for the Yugoslavian film industry," he adds, "we In 1986, 45. 7percent (96 full-length films) of the popular films are American. We cannot survive country of sun, sea, fig trees, intoxicating are lucky to have a lot of illiterate people .. . it's films shown in the 1,271 Yugoslavian movie exclusively by showing artistic films! But at odours, Mediterranean languidness, how does difficult for them to read subtitles! No doubt that theatres were American. present the cost of films is so high and the dinar

PAGE •• CINEMA CANADA CINEMA C A " • A D A

Somefact& Yugoslavia is one of the rare countries in the world, as well as the first, to have included the cinema as part of the cUrriculum in secondary schools. Despite the catastrophic economic situation, in 1987-88, 36 full-length films were produced. This broke allihe records in the history of the Yugoslavian film industry. . The sale of videos on the black market flourishes in Yugoslavia. Afilm such as The Llst Emperor is already being seen in the country's living rooms before it has even been purchsed by a distributor. The regulations and laws pertaining to the sale of videocassettes are practically nonexistent; there are 400 video clubs in Yugoslavia. . _ When Father was Away on Business was seen in Yugoslavian cinemas by as many people as Tup Gun - almost half a million. Couple #3: Meto Jovanovski and in The Film Without a Name directed by Srdjan Karanovic The cost of producing a full-length .fiIm in Yugoslavia varies between $300,000 and so low that we have been forced to redirect our had to turn towards international coproduction. stars who are benefitting the most. " $500,000. Kus~a's latest film cost a fortune; buying policy .. , The Americans don't Now, it is our "B" studio, our commercial This statement was confirmed by the producer $1 .1 million dollars for a full-length film and understand this problem. We used to buy some studio, which is financing our research studio, of Urania Films, Nikola Babic, one of the many seven hours of television film. 200 films but now, due to currency problems we studio" A", and yet it was this same studio "A" cooperative film companies to be found in find ourselves obliged to buy more French and that gave birth to studio "B"!" Yugoslavia. "The large companies don't want to Italian as well as other films. The public is admit that they have a monopoly, and yet they spoiled by American films ... Hwe distribute The state's role do. Years ago, the state provided them with Some figures them, it is to get money which in turn enables us And where does the goverrunent figure in all of buildings, labs, studios and offices ... which Yugoslavia had 1,000 movie theatres in 1950, to produce our own domestic films ". this? Its role varies conSiderably from one allowed them to produce our local films. They 1,638 in 1%8, 1,385 in 1977. The most recent republic to another. Of the six republics it is gradually isolated themselves and today these statistic (1986) is 1,271 movie theatres in the Coproduction: a solution? Slovania, bordering on Austria, which offers the large companies no longer belong to the country. Centar Film has produced three feature films best subsidies to the industry. Before the slump republic. .. but to the 350 employees who work Except for in Macedonis and Montenegro, thiS year. Srdjan KaranoviC's Film witiwut aName of the dinar, government aid could make up to there. " there has been if decrease in the number of is one of these, and it will be shown in 100 per cent of a film's budget. In Bosnia, in Fortunately, Nikola Babic and Urania Films theatres over the past few years. competition in Montreal. Like most of the central Yugoslavia, the state finances up to 50 were able to associate themselves with Avala Canada, with the same population, had 1,007 Yugoslavian film companies (there are about 25 per cent of a film 's costs. In Croatia, it varies Films in Belgrade as well as with Ben Stassen, a theatres in 1986. In 1986, Yugoslavia registered of them), Centar Film is trying to circurnventthe between 40 and BO per cent according to young producer, who coproduced 'OJ million entrees in its theatres. This was an present crisis through involvement in available information. In Serbia, the companies Krsto Papic's film My Uncle's Legacy. At a time increase of 10 million over W77 and six million coproductions. Djortje Mihajlovic, director consider themselves lucky to get 20 per cent when nationalism in some republics is high, it is over 1982. In Canada, there were BO. 6 million general of Centar Films explains: "Now, more financial backing. In other words, there are as . good to see that Croates and (Urania is entrees in 1986, representing·a 20 per cent than ever, we are searching for pure coproduc­ many types of subsidies as there are republics Croatian company, Avala aSerbian one) are able decrease over 19BO-81. tion. In fact, over the past five years, we have and provinces. to produced together a film which unveils an There were 9.5 million entrees in Yugoslavia been working on a Canadian-Yugoslavian Since 1962 there has been no central, federal aspect of the sometimes dark history of for domestic films as opposed to 68. 538 million agreement for coproduction. What we are organization looking after the film industry. It Yugoslavia. This association is a good example for foreign films. From 1944 to 1986, Yugoslavia looking fornow is the ideal script and director to has been replaced by a seU-management of the opening of ideas and is perhaps a sign of imported 2,341 American films while, during the enable us to make this step forward . " system. Resources have multiplied. The the times. same period, the U. S. A. bought 117 Yugosla­ The Canadian-Yugoslavian coproduction filmmaking companies have had to show vian features. During the same time-frame, agreement has been in effect since February of themselves to be more dynamiC and imaginative; Nostalgia for the '60s Yugoslavia presented 905 French features while, thisyear. and Quebec'sCinegroupe hence the need for international and domestic However, the future is not equally rosy for aU the in France, 117 Yugoslavian features were on the are already working On a coproduction entitled coproductions. members of the yugoslavian film profession. bill. . The Flying Bears. This is a series of animated Insofar as providing services is concerned, the Despite his international success, Sa~a PetroviC, Between 1944 and 1986, Yugoslavia imported cartoons which we will probably see on our large companies are the ones who benefit. This director of The Fea ther Collectors and of Milestro 57 East German films while East Germany screens in September 1989. is because they are the only ones with adequate and Milrguerita , has some serious words to say bought 339 Yugoslavian films! Over the same Even the world-renowned Zagreb Institute for technical equipment. This is the case of Jadran concerning the producers and the bureaucracy . peril)d, Yugl)slavians saw 310 West German Animated Cartoons has not escaped the Film in Zagreb and Avala Film in Belgrade, the "Corruption has managed to infi1trate even the films while that country bought 292 Yugoslavian economic problems which are endemic in two main film-producing centres. world of cinema. The profession no longer has films. During the same period, the U. S. S. R. Yugoslavia today. The Zagreb school put Ayoung assistant producer whom I met on passion, nor social, political or ethical exported 936 features to Yugoslavia while ;ugoslavia on the international film map in the the outskirts of Zagreb and who preferred to commitment. " In alluding to these failures, importing 205 feature films to the U. S. S. R. SOs and in 1961 Du&m Vukotic received an remain anonymous said, "It's not fair, the big Petrovic says : "The big producers are killing the The most popular films in Yugoslavia are the Oscar for Zagreb Film with Ersatz . companies were able to equip themselves Yugoslavian film industry. The industry is American and Italian films, followed by the Bruno Gamulin, production director at Zagreb through public funds . Now they are making looking lor an identity and is trying to establish French and British films . Film for the past five years, tells us: "We have money and it is neither our film industry nor our a continuity with its golden age, which existed

...,..... 1 ... CINIMA CANADA PAGI ~7 CINEMA CAN A D A •

between '61 and '72. It is not easy. Things have Erland Joseffon. "I consider myself to be a same opinion. "The young people are more 5 to 20 per cent. .. Under these conditions, been in a rut since 1976. Yugoslavian cinema European filmmaker," says Petrovic. "1 do not individualistic, less politicized. All the same, companies such as ours, which in the past made lacks passion. The bureaucrats, the leaders, are believe that national film industries should short films produced by our students show them seven or eight feature films, now manage Iwoor often people of no culture, peasants. They have become ghettos. However, this does not mean to be preoccupied by social and economic issues, three if not only one (per year). left the cinema to the producers, and it is the that the film industry of a small country should although from time to time they produce films "The present situation is destroying the producers who pull the strings. The bureaucrats be taken over by a foreign country! In order for based on light fiction and love stories. " I was quality of the films and the system of subsidies do not like producers who make films that my opinion as an author to be respected, I had to able to see some of the student films and found by project is destroying the existing talent. How criticize the social situation, that question the stand fum, otherwise I would never have this to be true : unemployment, family life, does one explain that Kusturica, despite his system. Political opportunists don't like that! succeeded. " abortion, or religion are the popular subjects and international reputation, has taken three years Therefore they allow the production of light Are the rising young directors ready to speak they are broached with striking technical ease to begin shooting his new 61m? In order to commercial films. On television things are even out as does this respected veteran? and a surprising depth. produce Gypsy's Caravan, which will be out this worse. Luckily from time to time there are Karanovic and Kusturica (When Father Was But what lies in the future for these young September, it was necessary to resort to foreign patrons who allow the artists to express Away on Business) , better known as the directors people does not appear to be promising. Alot of capital. Columbia Pictures provided this by themselves freely. " of the Prague school (FAMU), give the the graduates will be absorbed by the television buying the distribution rights ... We only get 30 Following the political tightening-up in 1972, Yugoslavian cinema a breath of the fresh air of industry. Their best hope of getting into the per cent of the profits .. , This is the price to be Petrovic found refuge outside the country. He which Petrovic speaks. industry is through smaller companies. "But paid in order that the film be made, Thecostwas has since worked on several coproductions, but But such directors are few and far between, there are definitely, now more than ever, too enormous - $1.1 million for the feature film and this is the first time he has returned to and the bureaucracy prefers by far to bolster many graduates for the size of the industry," seven hours of television 61m. " Yugoslavia. He is currently directing a academism than to support anti-establishment says Batusic. The normal cost of producing a feature film in production based on the novel Migrations by the projects even if official censorship no longer Jelena Silajdzic, of Forum Film, a small Yugoslavia at present varies between $300,COO Serbian author Cmjanski, who received the exists. company in Sarajevo, whose first film When and $500,000. "The main reason for the ruin of Nobel Prize for Literature. Produced by the Father Was Away on Business, directed by Emir the Yugoslavian cinema is money, " concludes television companies of Belgrade and Novi Sad, Too many graduates Kusturica, put Yugoslavia back on today's film SaSa Petrovic. "The cinema has become a tool as well as a French company, this series stars, Young people graduating from school in the map, holds a sirnilaropinion. "With the present serving the personal interests of a few individ· among others, Dragan NikoliC, Isabelle different republics seem to have a new view of rate of inflation, when the SIZ allocates its uals. " This problem appears to be omnipresent Huppert, Richard Berry, Afandi! Maharaze, their society. Nikola Ba~ic, director of the subsidies to the film only at the post-production in the turmoil of Yugoslavian society today. Mirjam Karanovic, Anica Dobra, Bernard Belier, School for Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, is of the stage, a 50 per cent subsidy is really only worth Translated from the French by Sheila Cimpaye, •

"Cinema Canada is an indispensable part of the cultural life of the nation, and should continue to be, as long as the nation has an indispensable cultural life ... "

I~ I.I~ fA"'~ SUBSCRIBE TODAY (Use enclosed post card to order)

PAGIU SIPTlM8I. 1'"