Croatia never missed a beat. The immediately began submitting films in 1992, just after declaring their independence in mid-1991, and they haven’t missed a year yet… however… they have not received a nomination.
Slovenia, who declared their independence the same day as Croatia, took a year off and begin submitting films in 1993. Since then, they have submitted films 15 times and, like Croatia, they have no nominations for show for it. Their latest attempt, in 2011, was thought to have a real shot, however it was disqualified due to a ‘clerical error.’
Macedonia, who declared their independence 3 months after Croatia and Slovenia, became the first former Yugoslav State to earn a nomination, and they did it on their first try in 1994. Since then, despite submitting 9 films, they have not received another nomination.
Seven months after Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared their independence and, like Macedonia, submitted a film for the first time in 1994. They didn’t try again until 2001, when they not only received a nomination for No Man’s Land, but as won the Academy Award. The win not only made them the first former-Yugoslavian State to win the Academy Award, but also the first Balkan Nation, a statistic that includes other countries like Greece, Albania, and Bulgaria. Since their victory, Bosnia and Herzegovina had submitted 9 more films without receiving another nomination.
During most of this time, Serbia and Montenegro remained united (in one way or another) and submitted films 12 times and after 2006, when they separated, Serbia has been submitting their own films every year. Although, they made the January short-list in 2007, Serbia has never received an Academy Award nomination. And if you count every manifestation of the county (Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia & Montenegro, and just plain Serbia) they have tried and failed 48 times. I am pretty darn sure this is a record.
However, recently, one man has been associated with two of the last three Serbian submissions. His name is Srđan Dragojević. In 2009, Srđan directed their submission, St. George Shoots the Dragon. And in 2011, Srđan wrote their submission, Montevideo, God Bless You! And now, in 2012, Srđan is poised to represent Serbia yet again for a Parada, a film he wrote and directed. Not only is Parada the sleeper hit of the Balkans, having sold more tickets in Bosnia and Herzegovina than James Cameron’s Avatar, but it just received three awards at the Berlin International Film Festival.
So, what’s so special about Parada? Well… everything.
But I’m biased.
I lived in Belgrade, Serbia for two years and in that time I fell in love with the people and the culture. My wife and I loved it so much that when I was transferred to Pakistan for a year she decided to stay in Belgrade rather than move the kids back to the States. Serbia is a beautiful place and I feel fortunate to have lived there and equally as fortunate to have seen so much of Serbia’s neighbors as well: Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Macedonia, (a heartfelt apology goes to Bosnia and Herzegovina, we missed you the first time, but we’ll be back).
The interesting thing about my time in Belgrade, as a movie buff, was getting to spend time with Serbian movie buffs. And having some very frank conversations about Serbian film. First of all… Serbian films, on the norm, are very bleak and unhappy. And I totally understand why. The entire region has a very tough history. A violent history… from both the outside and from within. Serbia is not to most optimistic place in the world. However, the region, as a whole, has a tremendous heart and so much to give and I when it came to Serbia film, I would tell my friends, “Serbia has so much to say, but an international audience is never going to listen until you learn to laugh at yourselves. Serbia needs to make funny and relatable films about serious issues.”
True story, I had this conversation a lot. Now, I never met Srđan Dragojević, however I think we would have enjoyed many a pivo (beer) together, because what he has done with Parada is EXACTLY what I was talking about. Srđan has sculpted a funny and endearing story about Serbia’s struggle with ethnic and homosexual tolerance. And what makes it special, for us, is that my wife was actually in country during the event that serves as the stories backdrop… and the event was a very big deal.
Set in 2010, during Belgrade’s first successful Gay Pride Parade, Parada, follows Lemin, a homophobic, middle-aged, Serbia gangster, who is over his head planning the perfect wedding for his fiancé, ends up sacrificing himself to protect Gay freedom in his county, but only after Radmilo, a homosexual veterinarian, performs a life saving operation on Lemin’s pit-bull terrier. The chance encounter evolves into a deal. Lemin agrees to provide security to the participates at the Pride Parade and in return, Radmilo’s theatre director boyfriend, Mirko, will plan Lemin’s wedding. This deal sends Lemin and Radmilo on a trip all over former-Yugoslavia to recruit a ragtag bunch willing to help Lemin secure the parade; managing to sign up a Croat war veteran, a Bosnian Muslim, and an Albanian from Kosovo.
This might not sound like much… but having lived in the Balkans let me tell you… this is a hilarious concept. Sure, stereotypes abound in this film… but that’s what it’s all about. It about taking the time to laugh at yourself. And with the number of tickets being sold throughout the former-Yugoslav region, it looks like everyone really needed a good laugh. Check out the preview (beware… cussing is a pretty regular thing in Serbia):
I, for one, am VERY excited about following the success of this film. And I wish Parada and Srđan the best of luck for 2012!
For more information on Parada, check out their website: http://www.filmparada.com/EN/index.php
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