Goran Dević's documentary could be termed an investigative art film, benefitting from a strong activist approach and revealing the human cost of government corruption and contempt for the ordinary worker. Following a Croatian rolling stock company, the film observes a decade-long story of union members fighting to protect their jobs and for the right of a decent living in the face of unbridled capitalism. The main protagonist is syndicate leader Željko, and the film beings in 2012, after his deputy commits suicide. A great number of workers, including Željko, are laid off, and they are looking for strategies that will give them the best advantage in negotiating with the state, after the 120-year-old factory is on the verge of bankruptcy. Dević’s film talks about labour and abuse, trade unionists and incompetent administrators, dignity and obedience, and traces the universal story of workers' rights, corruption and governments' contempt for ordinary people that has been unfolding for an entire decade. (Carmen Lascoiu)
Cinematography Damian Nenadić
Editing Iva Kraljević
Screenplay Goran Dević, Zvonimir Jurić, Andrej Nikolaidis
Production Hrvoje Osvadić
Sound Design Ivan Zelić
Co-writers Zvonimir Jurić, Andrej Nikolaidis
Producing company Petnaesta umjetnost
AUDIO: Croatian
SUBTITLE: Romanian, English
awards and festivals
Sarajevo film festival 2023
Slobodna zona Beograd 2023 – Special mention
Verzio film festival Budapest 2023
Human right film festival Zagreb 2023
Pula film festival 2023. Rough cut pitch – Best pitch award