East of the West 2001 / Je li jasno, prijatelju? / Croatia 2000
A friend’s harrowing tale inspired actor Dejan Aćimović to make his writing-directing debut. In 1981, on the day Martin Pavlović turned twenty-nine, he committed a murder and was sentenced to twelve years in prison. He found himself in one of the most dangerous lockups in the former Yugoslavia. Those who ended up there – and it really was the end for many, regardless of the seriousness of their offence – became just more bodies among tortured multitudes. Only political prisoners had it worse. Martin had suspected for a long time that events on that fateful night had actually happened differently. But only after he’d long been in prison did he find out the truth. He was to have been the victim that night in the Casablanca bar. The defence lawyer assigned to him did nothing. Who cares about a witness to lawlessness and corruption in the penal and judicial systems? Years went by and Martin and a fellow prisoner succeeded in provoking a riot. While the government had promised them protection both paid for it with their lives.
94 min / Black & white, 35 mm
Director Dejan Aćimović
/ Screenplay Dejan Aćimović
/ Dir. of Photography Slobodan Trninić
/ Music Goran Bregović
/ Editor Tvrtko Grgić
/ Producer Tatjana Aćimović
/ Production Da Film, Croatia Film, Gama Studio
/ Cast Milan Pleština, Milivoje Bedaer, Mustafa Nadarević, Radko Polić, Ivo Gregurević, Dejan Aćimović, Ivan Brkić, Božidar Orešković, Rade Šerbedžija
Dejan Aćimović (b. 1963, Čapljini) is a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb where he studied acting (1987). Since that time he has had engagements in the Theatre for Young People (Zagrebačko Kazalište Mladih) and has taken part in a number of local productions, chiefly works from the classical repertoire. He has appeared, for example, in the films My Uncle’s Legacy (Život sa stricem, dir. Krsto Papić, 1988), Čaruga (dir. Rajko Grlić, 1991), A Summer to Remember (Ljeto za sjećanje, dir. Bruno Gamulin, 1990), The Golden Years (Zlatne godine, dir. Davor Žmegač, 1993), The Peacemaker (dir. Mimi Leder, 1997), The Mother of God (Bohorodička, dir. Hrvoje Hitrec, 1999) etc. He has been equally successful in his television roles. Is It Clear, My Friend? is his intellectually forceful and successul debut in which he, himself, plays one of the supporting roles.
First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.
