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Post by manfromplanetx on Apr 6, 2017 4:20:40 GMT
Around the world filmmaking in the sixties was a period of intense creativity and experimentation. Yugoslavia was no exception, more exciting classic films were produced than ever before,
Yugoslavian. filmmakers of the 60s were united by a collective ambition, to increase the freedom of artistic expression and to break from the traditional approach, they were driven by a desire to progress and broaden the cinematic language of their country. Portraying a previously unseen darker side of the human psyche, many of the films from this era openly criticized the conditions of the socialist state, this new movement became known as the Yugoslav Black Wave...
The surge in popularity of the films and directors of the Black Wave era was fuelled by the fresh approach & daring creativity, however the movement became the target for political attacks. Opposition to the growing new wave perceived a pessimistic view, an anarchistic and individualistic tone in the films, which was said to threaten the stable cohesion of the socialist state. Political interference led to the banning of selected films and some directors were forced or chose to leave the country.
A majority of Yugoslav Black Wave films are currently unavailable on DVD but many notable and significant films with Eng. Subs. can be tracked down, the creative diversity of the captivating works are Highly Recommended just a few favourites for example....
Director... Aleksandar Petrovic... Skupljaci perja , I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967) Gypsy life in a village of goose feather gathers, wonderful traditional music accompanies a gritty tale, a big influence on Emir Kusturica's Time of the Gypsies (1988)
Živojin Pavlović... Kad budem mrtav i beo , When I Am Dead And Gone (1967) The story of Jimmy the Dingy, a young vagabond who works as a seasonal worker. Having been sacked from his job, he dreams of becoming a singer... Zaseda , The Ambush (1969) An idealistic young man supports the party and the new communist regime post WW11, but amongst the reality he becomes confused about what's right and what's wrong.
Dusan Makavejev... Covek nije tica , Man Is Not A Bird (1965) A love romance between an older and respectable engineer who has arrived in an industrial town and a young local hairdresser
Zvonimir Berkovic... Rondo (1966) A chess board is the centre of this excellent modernist film, the moves mirroring the emotional developments of the three main characters.
Ante Babaja... Breza , The Birch Tree (1967) A stunning emotionally charged drama film which takes satirical jabs at peasant life and socialism.
Have you any thoughts, favourites, know of others availability?
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Post by teleadm on Apr 6, 2017 19:11:12 GMT
The only movie of those you mention that I've heard about but never seen is I Even Met Happy Gypsies 1967. But I noticed the name Bekim Fehmiu there, I think I remember that they tried to make an international star of him in the early 1970s with The Adventurers 1970, The Deserter 1971 and Permission to Kill 1975. I've only seen Adventurers, and yes, it's an awful mishmash mess, filled with clichés from a brick thick Harold Robbins novel. Fehmiu was born in the former Yuguslavia, and Paramount tried to sell him of as a dashing South American. I know this was a sidetrip from your original thread, but I hope you don't mind.
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angel
Sophomore
@angel
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Post by angel on Apr 6, 2017 19:45:11 GMT
Tito was a huge film fan and as a result built one of the largest film industries in the world at the time mainly so they could churn out Partisan (propaganda) films often with him as one of the (heroic) characters saving the Yugoslav nation. With such a thriving industry and a large pool of creative talent, it's hardly surprising that the Black Wave movement flourished. Even less surprising is when the authorities realised what they were up to, the movement was suppressed. I haven't seen many mainly because they are notoriously difficult to get hold of with Eng subtitles, I have seen Dusan Makavejev's (one of the movement's leading lights) WH: Mysteries of the Organism which was pretty good (with all of its energetic experimentalism) and Zelimir Zilnik's Early Works, not much else I'm afraid. Director... Aleksandar Petrovic... Skupljaci perja , I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967) Gypsy life in a village of goose feather gathers, wonderful traditional music accompanies a gritty tale, a big influence on Emir Kusturica's Time of the Gypsies (1988)
Have you any thoughts, favourites, know of others availability? This film I have to see. Time of the Gypsies is one of my all-time favourite films. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Apr 7, 2017 3:40:50 GMT
The only movie of those you mention that I've heard about but never seen is I Even Met Happy Gypsies 1967. But I noticed the name Bekim Fehmiu there, I think I remember that they tried to make an international star of him in the early 1970s with The Adventurers 1970, The Deserter 1971 and Permission to Kill 1975. I've only seen Adventurers, and yes, it's an awful mishmash mess, filled with clichés from a brick thick Harold Robbins novel. Fehmiu was born in the former Yuguslavia, and Paramount tried to sell him of as a dashing South American. I know this was a sidetrip from your original thread, but I hope you don't mind. Thanks teleadm I was very interested to read your thoughts on Bekim Fehmiu who made such a striking impact as Bora, in I Even Met happy Gypsies Watching Fehmiu in the film with his handsome good looks and sly charm a distinctive similarity to Jean-Paul Belmondo in appearance is perceivable, obviously what caught the eye of the Western filmmakers who promised him bigger things away form his homeland. Following on from your post I have learned that Bekim Fehmiu was the first Eastern European actor to star in Hollywood during the Cold War. but that film as you noted was a disaster and ruined his chances of more Hollywood roles and fame.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Apr 7, 2017 4:00:30 GMT
Tito was a huge film fan and as a result built one of the largest film industries in the world at the time mainly so they could churn out Partisan (propaganda) films often with him as one of the (heroic) characters saving the Yugoslav nation. With such a thriving industry and a large pool of creative talent, it's hardly surprising that the Black Wave movement flourished. Even less surprising is when the authorities realised what they were up to, the movement was suppressed. I haven't seen many mainly because they are notoriously difficult to get hold of with Eng subtitles, I have seen Dusan Makavejev's (one of the movement's leading lights) WH: Mysteries of the Organism which was pretty good (with all of its energetic experimentalism) and Zelimir Zilnik's Early Works, not much else I'm afraid. Director... Aleksandar Petrovic... Skupljaci perja , I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967) Gypsy life in a village of goose feather gathers, wonderful traditional music accompanies a gritty tale, a big influence on Emir Kusturica's Time of the Gypsies (1988)
Have you any thoughts, favourites, know of others availability? This film I have to see. Time of the Gypsies is one of my all-time favourite films. Thanks for the recommendation. Much appreciate your comment here angel , thanks for expanding the historical political landscape interesting to read that Tito was such huge film fan , The film Skupljaci perja I was going to say is usually available but having a look at the usual sources it has become outrageously expensive... If you are a bit of a MovieDetective.com you can find a no frills copy along with a few others ... Happy Viewing
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Post by manfromplanetx on Apr 7, 2017 4:04:16 GMT
Of course, I have seen none of your titles, though they all sound terribly intriguing. I did see and really loved Time of the Gypsies, which makes me quite interested in I Even Met Happy Gypsies. Actually, I'm sure I'd enjoy seeing everything you mentioned. The Birch Tree in particular also appeals to me. Thanks for this fascinating bit of world film education. I wish I could respond with more knowledge. Thanks spiderwort, just taking the time to read and to always show such an interest is always warmly welcomed
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 7, 2017 12:02:36 GMT
manfromplanetx Thanks for all the terrific write-ups about pictures that sound so watch-worthy. It's a pleasure reading about them. Sad though, that because of their un-availability we may never get to see them ourselves. Reminds me in a way of reading about lost silent films. Of course, the Black Wave pictures aren't technically lost, they are just hiding until they get dvd-d. <small aside> I hope you won't mind that clippings from your interesting posts are appearing on the TechyTalk 101 thread. They are so stealab.... borrowable ! Thanks so much for the one that you posted there yourself. I look forward to more (hint-hint) There are so many terms that we read or hear about that sound familiar. Knowing just what they actually mean is really great.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 7, 2017 14:19:33 GMT
spiderwort"I don't think I'm ever going to catch up!" Been there. Doin' that ! So many pictures. So Little time !
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Post by teleadm on Apr 7, 2017 16:24:46 GMT
spiderwort "I don't think I'm ever going to catch up!" Been there. Doin' that ! So many pictures. So Little time ! LOL That was fun Bat Outtacheck, because I used a similiar catchphrase on the old Imdb board "So Many Movies, So Little Time"
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Post by petrolino on Apr 7, 2017 21:54:47 GMT
Around the world filmmaking in the sixties was a period of intense creativity and experimentation. Yugoslavia was no exception, more exciting classic films were produced than ever before,
Yugoslavian. filmmakers of the 60s were united by a collective ambition, to increase the freedom of artistic expression and to break from the traditional approach, they were driven by a desire to progress and broaden the cinematic language of their country. Portraying a previously unseen darker side of the human psyche, many of the films from this era openly criticized the conditions of the socialist state, this new movement became known as the Yugoslav Black Wave...
The surge in popularity of the films and directors of the Black Wave era was fuelled by the fresh approach & daring creativity, however the movement became the target for political attacks. Opposition to the growing new wave perceived a pessimistic view, an anarchistic and individualistic tone in the films, which was said to threaten the stable cohesion of the socialist state. Political interference led to the banning of selected films and some directors were forced or chose to leave the country.
A majority of Yugoslav Black Wave films are currently unavailable on DVD but many notable and significant films with Eng. Subs. can be tracked down, the creative diversity of the captivating works are Highly Recommended just a few favourites for example....
Director... Aleksandar Petrovic... Skupljaci perja , I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967) Gypsy life in a village of goose feather gathers, wonderful traditional music accompanies a gritty tale, a big influence on Emir Kusturica's Time of the Gypsies (1988)
Živojin Pavlović... Kad budem mrtav i beo , When I Am Dead And Gone (1967) The story of Jimmy the Dingy, a young vagabond who works as a seasonal worker. Having been sacked from his job, he dreams of becoming a singer... Zaseda , The Ambush (1969) An idealistic young man supports the party and the new communist regime post WW11, but amongst the reality he becomes confused about what's right and what's wrong.
Dusan Makavejev... Covek nije tica , Man Is Not A Bird (1965) A love romance between an older and respectable engineer who has arrived in an industrial town and a young local hairdresser
Zvonimir Berkovic... Rondo (1966) A chess board is the centre of this excellent modernist film, the moves mirroring the emotional developments of the three main characters.
Ante Babaja... Breza , The Birch Tree (1967) A stunning emotionally charged drama film which takes satirical jabs at peasant life and socialism.
Have you any thoughts, favourites, know of others availability?
Availability has been the key issue for me as hardly any of the films associated with the Black Wave are released to dvd here in U K. I've seen several of Dusan Makavejev's films and he's a challenging filmmaker with incredible talent.
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