This beautiful little film is set in Croatia but the issues raised have a global appeal. It serves as a moral parable to demonstrate that if we wish to make a world where everybody is equal, then we need to get rid of all kinds of prejudice; be it class-based, race-based or sexual-orientation based.
Vjeko Kralj is a high school professor living in an apartment complex in Zagreb. He is forced to live a secret life on account of being gay and transvestite. His father, Hrvoje Kralj is a Croat war veteran who is an invalid having had both his legs amputated while serving his country. Both the father & son are staunch nationalists. The father-son duo have a love-hate relationship since the father is a homophobe and has always treated his gay son poorly. Having lost the man who was the love of his life, Vjeko is only surviving out of duty & love for his father, even though he resents his father & sometimes finds it hard to carry on caring about his cruel father. Outside of his home also, Vjeko has a hard life. He is victimized by some homophobic individuals who beat him up mercilessly one night. But, as much as we sympathize with Vjeko, we soon see that he is not perfect either. He is a recluse who does not mingle with his neighbors. He is prejudiced against all Serbs, so much so that he would stop enjoying a great meal, should he hear midway that it is a delicacy from Serbia.
Maja Samardzic is the heart of this story. She is a nurse who lives in the same building complex as Vjeko. She is a Croat who fell in love with her cop husband, Ante Samardzic who is a Serb. Maja is a kind-hearted & compassionate woman who sees the good in everyone. She recognizes the battered & bruised Vjeko as he is brought into the hospital where she works. Once he is released from the hospital, she offers to help Vjeko with his bandaging & also with his father. Vjeko is grateful and offers to pay her, but she flat out refuses saying that where she comes from, people help their neighbors. Slowly, Vjeko starts warming up to her & once while having tea, asks her why she chose to marry a Serb when being a beautiful woman, she could've had her pick of men. She puts him in place by replying that she fell in love & that love sees no prejudice. She then asks Vjeko to give lessons in Croatian constitution to her husband Ante, who needs to know it by heart from his upcoming promotion exam. Vjeko agrees but his dislike of Serbs gets in the way. He is rude to Ante who returns insolence with insolence. Slowly, Maja makes them both see that a little bit of empathy goes a long way. Eventually, these strangers give Vjeko a new reason to live!
Vjeko Kralj is a high school professor living in an apartment complex in Zagreb. He is forced to live a secret life on account of being gay and transvestite. His father, Hrvoje Kralj is a Croat war veteran who is an invalid having had both his legs amputated while serving his country. Both the father & son are staunch nationalists. The father-son duo have a love-hate relationship since the father is a homophobe and has always treated his gay son poorly. Having lost the man who was the love of his life, Vjeko is only surviving out of duty & love for his father, even though he resents his father & sometimes finds it hard to carry on caring about his cruel father. Outside of his home also, Vjeko has a hard life. He is victimized by some homophobic individuals who beat him up mercilessly one night. But, as much as we sympathize with Vjeko, we soon see that he is not perfect either. He is a recluse who does not mingle with his neighbors. He is prejudiced against all Serbs, so much so that he would stop enjoying a great meal, should he hear midway that it is a delicacy from Serbia.
Maja Samardzic is the heart of this story. She is a nurse who lives in the same building complex as Vjeko. She is a Croat who fell in love with her cop husband, Ante Samardzic who is a Serb. Maja is a kind-hearted & compassionate woman who sees the good in everyone. She recognizes the battered & bruised Vjeko as he is brought into the hospital where she works. Once he is released from the hospital, she offers to help Vjeko with his bandaging & also with his father. Vjeko is grateful and offers to pay her, but she flat out refuses saying that where she comes from, people help their neighbors. Slowly, Vjeko starts warming up to her & once while having tea, asks her why she chose to marry a Serb when being a beautiful woman, she could've had her pick of men. She puts him in place by replying that she fell in love & that love sees no prejudice. She then asks Vjeko to give lessons in Croatian constitution to her husband Ante, who needs to know it by heart from his upcoming promotion exam. Vjeko agrees but his dislike of Serbs gets in the way. He is rude to Ante who returns insolence with insolence. Slowly, Maja makes them both see that a little bit of empathy goes a long way. Eventually, these strangers give Vjeko a new reason to live!