Dir: by Hana Jušić | Cast : Manuela Martelli, Ana Marija Veselčić, Filip Đurić , Mauro Ercegović Gracin and Nikša Butijer | Croatia, Romania, Italy, France, Slovenia, Greece – 2025 – 137’ – Croatian, Spanish
A Chilean woman finds herself in a close knit and isolated mountain enclave of Croatian shepherds in the early 20th century, claiming to be the widow of their émigré brother. Teresa’s arrival dramatically changes the community dynamics for the worse, but it also brings freedom, inspiring the other local women she meets there.
In her follow-up to Quit Staring at My Plate Hana Jušić once again successfully explores the experience of a woman struggling to succeed in a paternalistic domain. But this time the story takes place in an even more challenging environment not only geographically but also chronologically.
Manuela Martelli gives a thoughtful performance in this impressively captured ‘bergfilm’ leading a cast of relative newcomers in an atmospheric tale that follows the tried and tested narrative formula of the stranger arriving in an established community to alter the status quo and leaving a lasting impact (Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Theorem is one of the best examples of this theme).
The spectacular widescreen images really conjure up the wild open spaces of this rural wilderness making this a fascinating foray into the past that would benefit from a tighter edit at nearly two and a half hours. @MeredithTaylor
PREMIERING AT LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL 2025