Archive of films Ruins / Ruševine

Slovenia
2004, 100 min

Section: East of the West - Competition
Year: 2005

Herman, a dramatist and stage director in his prime, an imposing figure both in his work and his private life, is putting together a new stage production. In order to ensure his play’s success, he is prepared to get the maximum out of every one of his actors, and to make use of his intimate knowledge of them. This isn’t just a glimpse literally behind the scenes, but also into the heroes’ private lives, which have a hidden, autobiographical subtext.

Synopsis

Herman, a dramatist and stage director in his prime, an imposing figure both in his work and his private life, is putting together a new stage production. It is to be his best work to date, thus it’s no surprise that he surrounds himself with his closest friends. For the main role, he casts the actress Žana, his real-life partner; her stage partner is to be Gregor, a friend of many years’ standing, and the artist Miloš is also a close ally. The party preceding rehearsals indicates that the planned project is to open a prestigious festival to which foreign guests have also been invited. Herman is prepared to get the maximum out of every one of them and to use his intimate knowledge of his actors and colleagues in order to ensure his play’s success. He is not only an experienced and talented artist, but also a masterful manipulator.... For Janez Burger, who also co-scripted the film, this somewhat autobiographical story became a quest to find the answer to a question: What form does love take in our egocentric world where, for the most part, everyone thinks only of himself?

About the director

Janez Burger (b. 1965, Kranj, Slovenia) first studied economics in Ljubljana and then feature direction at Prague’s Film Academy (FAMU), graduating in 1996. He then moved back to Ljubljana where he founded the Burghteater, an independent experimental studio theatre. There he directed the production Piki and Roni (Piki in Roni) in 1999, and, a year later, Miss Margaret. After creating a series of short films, his feature debut Running (V leru, 1999) was screened as part of the Official Selection at Karlovy Vary in 1999 and subsequently enjoyed an extensive festival tour. One of his shorts, Macek (1994), was awarded by the Czech Literary Fund. Ruins (Ruševine) was a prize-winner at the National Film Festival in Ljubljana. It won not only Best Film, but also other categories, including Best Direction and the Audience Prize.

Contacts

Slovenian Film Center
Miklošičeva 38, 1000, Ljubljana
Slovenia
Tel: +38 612 343 200
Fax: +38 612 343 219
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.sfc.si

E-motion Film
Kersnikova 4, Sl - 1000, Ljubljana
Slovenia
Tel: +386 1 430 3531, 32
Fax: +386 1 430 3530
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.emotionfilm.si

About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	East of the West - Competition

Director:	Janez Burger
Screenplay:	Ana Lasić, Janez Burger
Dir. of Photography:	Simon Tanšek
Music:	Drago Ivanuša
Editor:	Miloš Kalusek
Producer:	Danijel Hočevar
Production:	E-motion Film
Cast:	Darko Rundek, Nataša Matjašec, Matjaž Tribušon, Milan Štefe, Vesna Jevnikar, Višnja Fičor, Rafael Vončina, Nataša Burger
Contact:	Slovenian Film Center, E-motion Film

www:	www.emotionfilm.si/ruins

Guests

Nataša Kočar

Film Institution Rep.

Janez Burger

Film Director, Film Director