I watched the movie premiere last night. Most of all I was touched by the children. And maybe that was the goal. As a viewer, that's enough for me, I enjoyed it. I read reviews that for some reason, the film overstates. Well done to Goran Bogdan and Hope Sargin too.
20 Reviews
Goran Bogdan excellent
vrnjabanja10 March 2020
didn't touch my emotions, I'm sorry
fatagorija29 February 2020
I put so much hope into this movie and I was most disappointed by the audience who applauded for a long time and commented that was disappointed. The authors did a good job. It's a good directing, a good story, great actors, but it's missing... a movie. Father didn't touch my emotions the way I expected, I'm sorry.
Maximum 7/10.
Superb film about a man battling injustice
Red-12523 October 2022
The Serbian film Otac (2020) was shown in the U. S. with the translated title Father. It was co-written and directed by Srdan Golubovic.
Goran Bogdan stars as Nikola--a worker who has been cheated of his severance pay by a factory at which he had been employed. He know works as a day laborer, doing difficult jobs whenever he can find them.
Despite his efforts, the municipality has taken his children from him. It's not a matter of right or wrong. It's a matter of a corrupt official who gains financially when children are put into foster care.
The movie shows us the immense sacrifices that Nikola makes to reunite his family. It's a great film about a man who refuses to be crushed.
We saw this film in Rochester's wonderful Dryden Theatre in The George Eastman Museum. It was shown as part of the outstanding Rochester Labor Film Series. Father has a strong IMDb rating of 7.6. I think it's a masterpiece, and rated it 10.
Goran Bogdan stars as Nikola--a worker who has been cheated of his severance pay by a factory at which he had been employed. He know works as a day laborer, doing difficult jobs whenever he can find them.
Despite his efforts, the municipality has taken his children from him. It's not a matter of right or wrong. It's a matter of a corrupt official who gains financially when children are put into foster care.
The movie shows us the immense sacrifices that Nikola makes to reunite his family. It's a great film about a man who refuses to be crushed.
We saw this film in Rochester's wonderful Dryden Theatre in The George Eastman Museum. It was shown as part of the outstanding Rochester Labor Film Series. Father has a strong IMDb rating of 7.6. I think it's a masterpiece, and rated it 10.
Excellent
goca-635755 February 2021
A touching film, but...
venesasakic26 March 2020
An excellent and important film to show the world
filmfan4626 February 2021
This is a film about a father who make every effort trying to claim back his two children when his wife is hospitalised due to poverty.
It shows the extreme poverty in some of the rural areas in the Balkan while showing the failure of its government, federal and local alike in providing basic humanity to its citizens.
The film is well made with excellent performances
especially the lead actor.
emotional and heavy
bulatkovicivana19 May 2020
Immensely poignant and powerful piece
Adrian_Qenaj7 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This drama, produced by the Bas celik film house, provides a realistic and convincing insight into Balkan, hence Serbian society and day to day life, both filled with corruption alongside with criminal and rotten system, crony capitalism, industries and factories which have failed due to the shady post-war privatisation which took place during the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1990's and total collapse of value system driven by general poverty and distitution.
The opening sequence shows the straw that broke the camel's back which made Nikola's wife set herself on fire; needs must when the Devil drives. That action fueled the entire movie and revealed all flaws of the corrupt system, making the movie even more moving and emotional. The plot is set in the latter atmosphere which was amazingly delivered by the director and his thought-provoking story of the main character. Director also tries to convey certain emotions at the given moment, provides background information and makes the movie exceptionally legible, yet complicated. Camera operations describe the setting well while capturing character's emotions and thoughts without the very character saying them out loud, which in return has to be acknowledged as an absolutely brilliant performance of Goran Bogdan who has been the pillar of the script, hence the movie itself.
The (lack of the) lighting throughout the movie and greyish color scheme are used to enhance the sense not only of position of the main characters, but also broader society. Music provides a support to all elements mentioned above by conveying a melancholic atmosphere, it also underlines a certain mood, evokes feelings and (again) shows character's emotions. The movie contains some quite powerful scenes, e.g. setting oneself on fire, reconnecting with ones family members or the state agencies taking them away. However, there are certain flaws in storytelling and editing into which I would not delve due to the lack of such movies in the region and a urging need that exists for them. One needs to take into account the quality of Croatian and Serbian cinematography (reference frame) and view those flaws with respect to the latter quality.
Watching Otac was a heartbreaking and overwhelming experience in addition to the plot being based on true events, and as I said, down to earth and realistic depiction of life in Serbia and Balkans. It remains a truly great piece of filmmaking, not to mention incredible camera and numerous iconic shots which can be seen throughout the movie. A very moving potrayal which I strongly recommend to watch especially if these topics are of your interest, nonetheless it will change the way you think about not only work and day to day life, but politics, crony capitalism, government agencies, political parties, this region in general and basic human dignity.
The opening sequence shows the straw that broke the camel's back which made Nikola's wife set herself on fire; needs must when the Devil drives. That action fueled the entire movie and revealed all flaws of the corrupt system, making the movie even more moving and emotional. The plot is set in the latter atmosphere which was amazingly delivered by the director and his thought-provoking story of the main character. Director also tries to convey certain emotions at the given moment, provides background information and makes the movie exceptionally legible, yet complicated. Camera operations describe the setting well while capturing character's emotions and thoughts without the very character saying them out loud, which in return has to be acknowledged as an absolutely brilliant performance of Goran Bogdan who has been the pillar of the script, hence the movie itself.
The (lack of the) lighting throughout the movie and greyish color scheme are used to enhance the sense not only of position of the main characters, but also broader society. Music provides a support to all elements mentioned above by conveying a melancholic atmosphere, it also underlines a certain mood, evokes feelings and (again) shows character's emotions. The movie contains some quite powerful scenes, e.g. setting oneself on fire, reconnecting with ones family members or the state agencies taking them away. However, there are certain flaws in storytelling and editing into which I would not delve due to the lack of such movies in the region and a urging need that exists for them. One needs to take into account the quality of Croatian and Serbian cinematography (reference frame) and view those flaws with respect to the latter quality.
Watching Otac was a heartbreaking and overwhelming experience in addition to the plot being based on true events, and as I said, down to earth and realistic depiction of life in Serbia and Balkans. It remains a truly great piece of filmmaking, not to mention incredible camera and numerous iconic shots which can be seen throughout the movie. A very moving potrayal which I strongly recommend to watch especially if these topics are of your interest, nonetheless it will change the way you think about not only work and day to day life, but politics, crony capitalism, government agencies, political parties, this region in general and basic human dignity.
To old glory 5/10
cyborgalfa29 February 2020
Overwhelming emotions
pedjamarkovic-795-84976531 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
That fine line that separates cinematography's true artists from skilled craftsmen is very present in this film. Just that scene, where the Father finally succeeds in seeing his children again only to have his son accusing him of abandoning them was enough for me to understand director's and main actor's artistry. And then, right at the end of this scene, the director allows for the first and the only time in the film to the main character to release the tension that the audience feels through a simple father's action of protecting his son. It ripped me apart, forgetting that it is "only a movie." This scene only makes this film a work of art.
Film is based on true story
adelaadnan12 December 2020
In the Name of the Father.
morrison-dylan-fan3 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
After cracking open the bundle of Korea films at the 2021 Glasgow Film Festival with the Pop-Rock charm of Da Capo (2020-also reviewed) I decided to take a browse at the non-Korean titles soon to premier. Finding the plot description on the site to sound intriguing,I got set to meet this father and his family.
View on the film:
Striking the audience with the level of shock Nikola experiences from seeing his secure family life suddenly end, co-writer/(with Srdjan Koljevic and Ognjen Svilicic) director Srdan Golubovic returns after a long gap since making Circles (2013)), and is joined by cinematographer Aleksandar Ilic in crafting Nikola's long walk with a magnificent earthy atmosphere.
Extensively shot in real locations, Golubovic makes each step Nikola takes in his hundreds of miles walk to deliver his appeal to overturn a local Govt ruling to the ministry, be one which is felt on screen,thanks to gritty hand-held camera moves rubbing along the rugged,remote terrain Nikola makes it his mission to cross.
Arriving at the government building, Golubovic subtly contrasts the gritty,earthy surroundings and life Nikola is in, with detached, metallic coloured wide-shots of Nikola meeting a government official, shining a light on how disconnected those in power are to the struggles that the likes of Nikola face alone.
Tearing a final shot for the audience that leaves everything open-ended, the writers superbly pair Nikola's Road Movie-style long walk to hope,with a study at the slow, grinding cogs of local Government, with all that Nikola tries to change, being mangled by the mechanical-like response he gets from local official's,who the locals are aware of being corrupt, but who are unable to break them from the rotten to the core chain of command.
Walking with a unshakable passion to be reunited with his family, Goran Bogdan gives a magnificent performance as Nikola,whose long journey Bogdan carries with a gripping expressiveness capturing the painful,unending grind he is in, which is unable to completely crush the love of family held by Nikola.
View on the film:
Striking the audience with the level of shock Nikola experiences from seeing his secure family life suddenly end, co-writer/(with Srdjan Koljevic and Ognjen Svilicic) director Srdan Golubovic returns after a long gap since making Circles (2013)), and is joined by cinematographer Aleksandar Ilic in crafting Nikola's long walk with a magnificent earthy atmosphere.
Extensively shot in real locations, Golubovic makes each step Nikola takes in his hundreds of miles walk to deliver his appeal to overturn a local Govt ruling to the ministry, be one which is felt on screen,thanks to gritty hand-held camera moves rubbing along the rugged,remote terrain Nikola makes it his mission to cross.
Arriving at the government building, Golubovic subtly contrasts the gritty,earthy surroundings and life Nikola is in, with detached, metallic coloured wide-shots of Nikola meeting a government official, shining a light on how disconnected those in power are to the struggles that the likes of Nikola face alone.
Tearing a final shot for the audience that leaves everything open-ended, the writers superbly pair Nikola's Road Movie-style long walk to hope,with a study at the slow, grinding cogs of local Government, with all that Nikola tries to change, being mangled by the mechanical-like response he gets from local official's,who the locals are aware of being corrupt, but who are unable to break them from the rotten to the core chain of command.
Walking with a unshakable passion to be reunited with his family, Goran Bogdan gives a magnificent performance as Nikola,whose long journey Bogdan carries with a gripping expressiveness capturing the painful,unending grind he is in, which is unable to completely crush the love of family held by Nikola.
Pure emotion
miljkovicmagdalena3 February 2021
Outstanding way of presenting the administration and the government in Serbia
jovanamajcen10 March 2020
This movie shows us a clear view of the way things are managed in Serbia. Very difficult times, people are losing jobs and the state doesn't care for nothing except their own pockets. Everything is presented as it is, and the sad part is that there is no shame to it, the authorities just keep getting more greedy.
The real story is a bit different but the point is definitely there.
I just hope the father keeps on fighting. 5 years have gone by, but there is still hope.
I would definitely recommend watching this heartbreaking story.
Very emotional
babona-769838 April 2020
Absolutely brilliant
zozegovic11 March 2020
A brilliant and courageous film depicting a heartless administrative system where no one cares about the common man, poor and jobless, outside that system. Great role of Goran Bogdan, Boris Isakovic, Milan Maric and other actors. A film that moves boundaries and makes you think long after you watch it. True story.
I don't like it
shikivile17 January 2021
For me this movie is one big disappointed. I understand problem which this movie want to present, and thats ok. But movie itself is bad. Noticed few wrong sentences, some situations just cant happend in real life. Only positive thing in this movie is that finally Serbs are not presented as bad people in 80% of movie time, they all want to help till the moment when main character returns to home and see what he sees. But in overall Serbs wanted to help and that's good. Finnaly some movie without hate towards serbs, and without autochauvinism.
Depressing serbian reality - boring
andrejhohnjec24 December 2022
Improved technology to make a movie about serbian despair. Doesn't have a message, doesn't have a story and doesn't have energy, only suffering and silence.
The main character is lifeless and has no arguments why he should take custody over his children, while the state official is eloquent and manipulative. The first part is filled with silence and is very boring. The second part gets a little more interesting with his journey, but as all serbian movies with similar theme, there is no speech.
All in all, at least what this movie did was make me write a negative review :D Because all serbian movies run on the same template, speechless suffering.
The main character is lifeless and has no arguments why he should take custody over his children, while the state official is eloquent and manipulative. The first part is filled with silence and is very boring. The second part gets a little more interesting with his journey, but as all serbian movies with similar theme, there is no speech.
All in all, at least what this movie did was make me write a negative review :D Because all serbian movies run on the same template, speechless suffering.
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