God Will Not Help, the sophomore feature from Croatian director Hana Jušić, is a poetic work on grief, faith, and the universal experiences of women within a patriarchal society. Led by powerful performances from its two stars Manuela Martelli as Teresa and Ana Marija Veselčić as Milena, the film explores how solidarity between the oppressed is able to form even in silence and cultural differences, and how it becomes their only shield against subjugation.
Tag Archives: Croatia
Karlovy Vary 2024 Review: “Celebration”
Bruno Anković’s debut film “Celebration,” which premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), is a haunting exploration of moral ambiguity and historical trauma. Set from pre- to post-World War II Croatia, the film delves into the stark and brutal world of Mijo, a man caught in the desperate struggle for survival during a time when his country was torn apart by political and ideological conflict. With its elliptical narrative and unsettling themes, Celebration offers a grim meditation on how suffering and desperation can trick one into following the dark path of fascism.
Cannes 2024 Review: “When the Light Breaks”
In Rúnar Rúnarsson’s latest film, “When the Light Breaks,” Una and Diddi, two young Icelandic art students and band members, are deeply in love. They find themselves lost in the mesmerizing dusk, their thoughts drifting away as they smoke joints together. They dream of traveling, ultimately choosing Japan as their destination. When the sun rises, Diddi will break up with his girlfriend, Klara, allowing him and Una to openly embrace their relationship. The future seems bright for the couple, but their hopes are shattered dashed by a tragic event.
Venice 2023 Review: “Housekeeping for Beginners”
“A gay man and a lesbian woman walk to the altar together” might sound like the setup for a joke, but in Goran Stolevski’s serious drama “Housekeeping for Beginners,” it’s a central moment in a jarring journey into the world of marginalized people in contemporary North Macedonia. Making a return to his motherland after having directed two successful queer features in Australia, Stolevski brilliantly maneuvers through the intersecting lines of discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ and Roma communities, delivering a daring portrayal of a group of people who do not fit in.
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