Florida Premiere / Montenegro / 2024 / Albanian, Montenegrin w/English Subtitles / 97 min / Drama, WWII, Historical
Director: Nikola I. Vukcevic; Writers: Melina Pota Koljevic, Ana Vujadinović, Nikola Vukcevic, Zuvdija Hodžić; Producers: Nikola I Vukcevic, Christopher Thoke, Milorad Radenovic, Nevena Savic, Dario Domitrovic.
Key Cast: Edon Rizvanolli, Xhejlana Terbunja, Selman Jusufi, Elez Adzovic, Alban Ukaj, Nikola Ristanovski, Aleksandar Radulovic, Vuk Bulajic, Branimir Popović, Igor Bencina, Ana Vuckovic.
Contact: office@galileoproduction.com
SYNOPSIS
Amid the chaos of World War II in Yugoslavia, a young child escapes the fascist unit that slaughtered their parents and razed their village to ashes. Desperate and alone, the child stumbles upon the home of a stranger — a quiet man whose faith and life are worlds apart.
But in a land torn by hatred and fear, religion can mean the difference between mercy and death. The child is Christian. The man is Muslim. And the soldiers are closing in.
As the fascist forces surround his home, the man faces an impossible choice:
betray the innocent child to save his own family, or defy the killers and risk everything he loves to uphold his humanity.
When the final moment comes and all hope seems lost, his decision will not only determine two fates — it will define the very meaning of honor, courage, and faith in the darkest of times.
What will he do?
*OBRAZ is a Shakespearean suspense drama with a historical background, set in the Balkans during WWII, Eastern (Balkan Western), carrying a powerful anti-war message. Set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II, this film unfolds over 36 intense hours along the Montenegrin border in Yugoslavia. Through the journey of one individual daring to stand against the might of the stronger, this film ignites reflection and inspires change. In a world where warring factions still push relentlessly toward mutual destruction, this story is a powerful reminder that humanity is our ultimate victory over violence and ruin. In times of war, being human is our most vital mission. IN TIMES OF WAR, HUMANITY MATTERS MORE THAN EVER!
Director Biography – Nikola I. Vukcevic
Dr. Nikola Vukčević is a prominent Montenegrin film and theatre director, university professor of Film Directing, and Head of the Department of Film and Media at the National University of Montenegro. He serves as Montenegro’s National Delegate to the Federation of European Film Directors (FERA) and is a member of the Film Committee of the Montenegrin Academy of Arts and Sciences (CANU). A Fulbright Program (IVLP) alumnus, he holds a Ph.D. in Filmology with a dissertation on The Poetics of Ingmar Bergman as a Director in Film and Theatre.
Vukčević has directed three feature films—including Montenegro’s 2014 Oscar submission—one full-length documentary, and over 80 advertising campaigns, with his work featured at international festivals. He served as Artistic Director of City Theater Podgorica for seven seasons and as Vice President of the Board of Directors of Montenegro’s National Radio and Television Service (2014–2017), where he contributed to key reforms in public broadcasting.
A leading figure in Montenegrin film education, Dr. Vukčević has mentored generations of filmmakers and conducted masterclasses internationally in France, China, Turkey, Croatia, and Portugal.
OBRAZ marks his second film selected as Montenegro’s official Oscar entry in the Best International Feature Film category.
Director Statement
In a world where warring factions today relentlessly strive for mutual destruction, this film powerfully underscores humanity as the greatest triumph over violence and annihilation. As I came from ex-Jugoslavia, this movie represents my hope in the Balkans as a place of justice, values, and heroism. Through the story of one fearless individual who dares to stand against his own people, this film becomes an inspiration for change: in times of war, being human becomes our most vital mission. While the story is set in the Balkan region, its message resonates universally. This film can also be described as an ancient Greek drama. If it were shot in America, it would be interpreted as a Western movie, embodying a story of justice with an archetypal hero. Given that it was filmed in the Balkans, we can categorize it as Eastern: by blending the archetypal principles of the Western genre with our Eastern European perspective, we can better understand one another.
Through a narrative rich in moral dilemmas, promises, love, and the transformative journey of youth, this film explores the profound COST OF INDIVIDUAL SACRIFICE, in the story where a Muslim and an Albanian, opens his home to a child of the Christian faith during a time when one’s name and nationality were matters of life and death in the Balkans.
IN TIMES OF WAR, BEING HUMAN BECOMES OUR MOST VITAL MISSION.