Although he already has two Golden Arena Awards, director Kristijan Milić has come for more to the 64th Pula Film Festival, and he did so with a mosaic film about a post-war provincial town and the fate of some twenty characters.

Dead Fish is based on a collection of stories by Josip Mlakić, who entrusted his story to director Kristijan Milić with full confidence. They had previously, Mlakić said, had the same experience with the film The Living and the Dead.

“Death is very film-like, that’s why I pursue it”, Milić said.

For Mirvad Kurić, actor and Minister of culture and sports of the Canton of Sarajevo, this was the first time working with Milić, and he said the cooperation required no special conversations, but mutual positive energy.

“This is a phenomenal film, and it was a lot for the director to take,” Kurtić said. Acting experience helps him better understand and manage the cultural sector.

Actress Marijana Mikulić is pleased with the role in the film, especially because Milić gives her a chance to play a different character every time they work together.

“Generally, directors try to put me in a drawer, but Kris challenges me,” the actress said.

Actor Ivo Krešić plays the tragic character who, as he says, is completely different to his own cheerful self.

“It was therefore difficult to transform myself, but I believe I was successful,” the actor said.

For young actor Marko Cindrić, Dead Fish is the fifth film at this year’s Pula Film Festival.

“We filmed in Mostar, and it was phenomenal. To play a drunk scene, even though you may never have experienced it, you draw upon acting tools to make it happen,” he said.

One of the producers, Slaven Knezović, who also acts in the film, is now at Pula Film Festival, after 20 years, as both producer and actor.

“There was a lot that had to be done to make the film, and we have done it with Euro Film, Oktavijan - Association for Theatre and Film, a Sarajevo foundation, and Croatian Audiovisual Centre.

Maja Lasic is also both producer and actress in this film.

“Despite huge fears, everything went fine, the deadlines were met, and all of the tasks were fulfilled.”

Speaking of acting, she said that, being Slaven Knezović’s sister, she wanted to contribute to the film so they overcame challenges together.

Josip Mlakić, author of award-winning screenplays, said: “This is my collection of stories that has received the least amount of interest, but is the most important to me.”

Mlakić added that he likes this type of films, with a short cut.

“Acting was interesting, but I like being a writer better,” he said.

Andrija Milić, the director’s brother, created the music for the film.

“Immediately after reading the screenplay, I created the theme songs, which were instantly accepted,” he said.

Ana Bulajić Črček, who was responsible for make-up, emphasised the specific nature of working in black and white.

“In this case, the screen shows a different spectrum of colours, in a way that we want it to. So, the overall configuration of the spectrum of colours that we use, and which will later show up the way we want it to, tells a story and is authentic, and provides a certain impression. For example, the blood is not red, so we needed to chose the shade to represent blood and give an effect of horror. What is easy to do with colour is not that simple in a black and white film,” she said.

 

 

The Constitution finally comes to the Arena

The Constitution already boasts six awards, of which five from A category festivals. Producer Maja Vukić spoke about the work on the film at a press conference.

“The secret of success for a film is cooperation. One always needs to give others enough space, so that everybody can do their part of the job as best as possible,” Vukić said, emphasising that, along with great cooperation, the film also has a great cast.

This is a Czech-Macedonian-Slovenian-English-Croatian production, so the film has already been shown in cinemas in these countries. The text by Ante Tomić and Rajko Grlić was an interesting foundation for the work on the film, Vukić said, highlighting that every detail of the film had been carefully thought through.

The film was written having in mind the lead actress and actor - Ksenija Marinković and Nebojša Glogovac, and as Rajko Grlić said, this is already his “third final film.”

“I still hope that he will make another final film; it would be a shame to stop now,” Vukić said.