Slovenian director Urška Djukić received a warm welcome at KVIFF with her feature debut Little Trouble Girls, winner of the FIPRESCI Award in the Perspectives section at this year’s Berlinale. The film tells the story of a young choir member who, during a summer camp, begins to explore the language and sensations of her own body. It approaches themes of awakening sexuality primarily through image and sound. “That’s why I find film such a wonderful medium – the power with which images can speak,” Djukić shared.
She is a filmmaker who lets her material guide the process, adapting organically as inspiration strikes. “Many of the scenes came from the locations themselves. For instance, the scene with the sour grapes, I discovered them in the monastery garden where we were shooting. That’s when I came up with the metaphor of sour grapes as penance for sins. My creative process isn’t very rigid. I always have a plan, but then life happens and I let it lead me, even though it can be scary. But it usually pays off. Later, I can see where my intuition was taking me. This film is about the body, feelings, and the senses. And I believe our body has its own intelligence – stronger than our brain. When we really listen to it, it shows us the right path,” described Urška Djukić.
During the post-screening discussion at Drahomíra Cinema, the conversation turned to Slovenian society’s relationship with alternative sexual orientations. “It’s still not easy, because of this lingering idea of sinfulness. You still feel guilty about certain emotions. I didn’t grow up in a conservative Catholic family, but I still felt that oppression everywhere. My mother raised me to be a ‘good girl.’ And any time I felt something strong, I thought I was doing something wrong. But those emotions are natural and essential. The concept of sinfulness is very clever. It separates people from their bodies and their power. If we believe our feelings are wrong, we’re easier to control,” says Djukić, who has already attracted attention with her short Granny’s Sexual Life, which won a César Award and a European Film Award.
