OBRAZ
THE TOWER OF STRENGTH
Performance
Trailer
In a predominantly Albanian region of Montenegro, two families bury a decades-old blood feud shortly before the German invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941. The peace doesn’t endure for long however. Doka, who feels bound by the Kanun code of honour, and his former enemy Gjonaj find themselves on different sides of history after Gjonaj joins the SS division "Skanderbeg". Gjonaj also feels a stronger sense of obligation towards the Albanian tradition of the Kanun than to his oath to the "Third Reich": when a Montenegrin Christian boy being pursued by troops under his command finds refuge in Doka's house, he protects him in line with the Besa code of honour, the Albanian tradition according to which guests of a house are to be protected from enemies. Nikola Vukčević, a guest of the FFC a few years back with THE KIDS FROM THE MARX AND ENGELS STREET, succeeds here with his most recent work in creating a suspense-packed genre film rich in fantasy - at times horror-like - motifs, superlative landscape shots and characters that would be a match for THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
Directors Note:
„ Despite centuries of bloodshed, a few brave individuals from opposing sides come together to create a cinematic story that offers hope for a better future. My ancestors and the ancestors of the actors in my film – they looked at each other through the sights of a rifle for a long time, and those wounds still run deep and much alive today, both within them and within us. This is why my film, which features a Muslim hero who sacrifices everything to save an innocent Christian child, is more than just a work of art. It’s a powerful reminder that universal human values can overcome even the most entrenched differences. The story is set in the Balkan region, but its message is universal. It’s an ode to humanity, a prayer for peace, and a poignant tale of sacrifice and values that we all need. By rising above our small human determinations, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.“
From the website of the production company.
Text: Bernd Buder
THE TOWER OF STRENGTH celebrates its world premiere at the 34th FFC.
07.11.2024 | 19:00 | Weltspiegel Großer Saal (original version with English and German subtitles)
09.11.2024 | 15:00 | Weltspiegel Saal 2 (original version with English and German subtitles)
Ana Vujadinovic, Melina Pota Koljevic and Nikola Vukčevic (as script associate) inspired by novel OBRAZ by Zuvdija Hodzic
Djordje Stojiljkovic
Igor Vujovic
Stanislav Nikicevic
Dusan Maksimovski
Edon Rizvanolli, Alban Ukaj, Elez Adžović, Aleksandar Rdulović, Xhejlane Terbunja,Vuk Bulajić, Selman Jusufi, Nikola Ristanovski, Merisa Adžović, Hana Pavlović, Ana Vučković, Igor benčina; special guest stars: Branimir Popović and Zef Dedivanović
Ivica Vidanović, Nevena Savić, company Cinnamon films Belgrad; Dario Domitrivić, comapany Embrio production Zagreb; associate producer Christoph Thoke, Mogador film Germany; associate producer Boris Raonić, Radio Televizja Crne Gore, Montenegro
Nikola Vukčević - Nikola Vukcevic (born 1974 in Titograd, Montenegro) is promonent Montenegrin film director, theatre director and university professor of Film directing, Head of departement of FILM AND MEDIA at the national Faculty of dramatiuc Arts at University of Montenegro (UCG); National Delegate of the Assembly of Association of European Film Directors (FERA), President of the Festival Council of Montenegro Int. Film Festival (2020-2022), and PhD in Filmology (Poetics of Ingmar Bergman on film and in the theater). Director of: Two prevous feature films (A view from the Eiffel tower – 2005, The Kids from the Marx and Engels street - 2014), shown at about thirty international film festivals (incl. national Oscar candidate 2014)
For seven seasons he was the artistic director of the City Theater in Podgorica (Montenegro capital) and participant in the prestigious Fulbright Program US Dept. Of State (New York, Los Angeles). He is a lecturer at film directing workshops: Paris, Dubrovnik, Izmir, Porto, Istanbul...
