Želimir Žilnik

26 November, 2014 - 20:00
Nova Cinema, Brussels
talk+screening

Želimir Žilnik (born in Niš in 1942; currently living and working in Novi Sad) has written and directed numerous feature and documentary films which have reaped many awards at domestic and international film festivals. Žilnik is renowned as an initiator of the "docudrama" genre. From the very beginning his films have focussed on contemporary issues, featuring social, political and economic assessments of everyday life. Žilnik was along with a.o. Dušan Makavejev and Karpo Godina one of the key figures in the Yugoslav 'Black Wave'.

Don't miss this chance to meet him in Gent and/or Brussels and see many of his films.

 

In collaboration with Nova Cinema & KASKlezingen.

 

On December 10 20h Nova Cinema presents Kenedi Goes Back Home (2003 - 75'), The Unemployed (1968 - 13') and Inventory (1975 - 9') and on December 17 20h Marble Ass (1994 - 87') and Black Film (1971 - 14').

 

www.nova-cinema.org

Early Works

Želimir Žilnik
,
YU
,
1969
,
35mm
,
b&w
,
87'

In an allegoric manner Early Works recount a story of young people who took part in student demonstrations in June 1968 in Belgrade. Three young men and a girl, Yugoslava, defy the petit-bourgeois routine of everyday life. Wishing to "change the world", inspired by the writings of young Karl Marx, they go to the country and to factories to "wake up people’s consciousness", to encourage them in their fight for emancipation and life worth living. Being in field they face primitivism and squalor, but they show their own limits, weaknesses, incapacity and jealousy. They get arrested. Frustrated because the planned revolution has not been realised, the three young men decide to eliminate Yugoslava, who is the witness of their impotence. They shoot her, cover her with the party flag, burn her body and a dark pillar of smoke going up into the sky is the only thing that remains of the intended revolution.

Newsreel on Village Youth, in Winter

Želimir Žilnik
,
YU
,
1967
,
35mm
,
b&w
,
15'

This documentary was shot in villages at the outskirts of Novi Sad – Bukovac, Krčedin and Futog. The camera is focused on young people, their leisure time in wine cellars, at dances, in village streets, in pubs. The participants are witty, energetic young men and women; they are having fun but would rather be somewhere else.

Little Pioneers

Želimir Žilnik
,
YU
,
1968
,
35mm
,
b&w
,
18'

Socially neglected children, taking care of themselves, they dare go stealing and break the law. They argue with parents who neither understand them nor do they have feelings for them. As a counterpoint to this story we see a TV show where a popular actor-entertainer Gula (Dragoljub Milosavljevic) addresses happy and care-free children.