The Marathon Family
Encyclopedia
The Marathon Family is a 1982 comedy film written by Dušan Kovačević
and directed by Serbia
n director Slobodan Šijan
. It has a cult film status in Serbia as well as other countries from the former Yugoslavia
region, and is regarded as one of the classics of Serbian cinematography.
Though operating out of a prominently located shop in the town, Topalovićs' business is mostly based on illegal activities. Instead of making brand new coffins, they simply recycle already used ones with the help of Bili Piton, whose men dig them out from the local cemetery during the night. Once they get their hands on the coffins that had been dug up, Topalovićs simply refurbish them and sell them as new, thereby making a large profit with very little overhead. Based on mutual financial interest, the business relationship between Topalovićs and Bili is deteriorating by the day as they owe him a large sum of money for the past services rendered and show no intention of paying him.
In parallel, Topalovićs are in the finishing stages of building a modern crematory
on which they're placing high hopes as the future source of income.
One day, the oldest Topalović, Pantelija, dies and leaves family inheritance to himself because he does not trust his successors. Topalovićs leave business with Bili Piton and he threatens to report them to the police for killing a man in a car accident. Bili's daughter, Mirko's love Kristina wishes to become an actress in (mostly pornographic) movies made by Mirko's best friend Đenka. However, she cheats on Mirko with Đenka, so outraged Mirko kills her when he finds out. He returns to his family and makes himself their leader by force, while Đenka is accidentally burned alive by the deaf Maksimilijan, while repairing the crematorium. The movie ends with a showdown between the Topalovićs and Bili Piton, in which Bili Piton is killed, and then a chase between Topalovićs and the police, with a scene abruptly cut just as raging Mirko attempts to run over a police officer fallen from a bicycle.
and the "Best Actress" award at the Pula Film Festival
, which went to Seka Sablić
for her portrayal of Kristina.
Dušan Kovacevic
Dušan Kovačević is a Serbian playwright and director best known for his theater plays and movie scripts. He also served as the ambassador of Serbia in Lisbon, Portugal....
and directed by Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n director Slobodan Šijan
Slobodan Šijan
Slobodan Šijan is a Serbian film director.After graduating film direction and directing a handful of TV movies in the late 1970s, he caught a big break with his first full-length feature Ko to tamo peva in 1980...
. It has a cult film status in Serbia as well as other countries from the former Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
region, and is regarded as one of the classics of Serbian cinematography.
Plot
The story takes place in an unnamed small Serbian town in 1935, and focuses on the Topalović family, whose members consist of six generations of undertakers: gravely ill Pantelija, wheelchair-bound Maksimilijan who's also mute and nearly deaf, rheumatic Aksentije, sober-minded Milutin, impulsive and narcissist Laki, and young and naive Mirko. Constantly bickering amongst each other, the latest family arguments arise from the youngest son, Mirko, not wanting to continue the family business of coffin-making. Deeply in love with a local girl Kristina, the daughter of a local hoodlum Bili Piton, he's looking to avoid the career path of his father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.Though operating out of a prominently located shop in the town, Topalovićs' business is mostly based on illegal activities. Instead of making brand new coffins, they simply recycle already used ones with the help of Bili Piton, whose men dig them out from the local cemetery during the night. Once they get their hands on the coffins that had been dug up, Topalovićs simply refurbish them and sell them as new, thereby making a large profit with very little overhead. Based on mutual financial interest, the business relationship between Topalovićs and Bili is deteriorating by the day as they owe him a large sum of money for the past services rendered and show no intention of paying him.
In parallel, Topalovićs are in the finishing stages of building a modern crematory
Crematory
A crematory is a machine in which cremation takes place. Crematories are usually found in funeral homes, cemeteries, or in stand-alone facilities. A facility which houses the actual cremator units is referred to as a crematorium.-History:Prior to the Industrial Revolution, any cremation which took...
on which they're placing high hopes as the future source of income.
One day, the oldest Topalović, Pantelija, dies and leaves family inheritance to himself because he does not trust his successors. Topalovićs leave business with Bili Piton and he threatens to report them to the police for killing a man in a car accident. Bili's daughter, Mirko's love Kristina wishes to become an actress in (mostly pornographic) movies made by Mirko's best friend Đenka. However, she cheats on Mirko with Đenka, so outraged Mirko kills her when he finds out. He returns to his family and makes himself their leader by force, while Đenka is accidentally burned alive by the deaf Maksimilijan, while repairing the crematorium. The movie ends with a showdown between the Topalovićs and Bili Piton, in which Bili Piton is killed, and then a chase between Topalovićs and the police, with a scene abruptly cut just as raging Mirko attempts to run over a police officer fallen from a bicycle.
Awards
The Marathon Family won two awards in 1982, including the Jury Prize at the Montréal World Film FestivalMontreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
and the "Best Actress" award at the Pula Film Festival
Pula Film Festival
The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....
, which went to Seka Sablić
Seka Sablic
Jelisaveta "Seka" Sablić is an awarded Serbian actress. She is named one of the best Serbian actresses in history...
for her portrayal of Kristina.
Cast
- Bogdan DiklićBogdan DiklicBogdan Diklić is a Serbian actor and star of over one hundred Yugoslavian movies and television series.He and Goran Marković made 10 movies....
- Mirko Topalović - Bata StojkovićDanilo Bata StojkovicDanilo Stojković , commonly nicknamed Bata , was a Serbian theatre, television and film actor...
- Laki Topalović - Pavle VujisićPavle VujisicPavle Vuisić Pavle Vuisić Pavle Vuisić (Serbian Cyrillic: Павле Вуисић, also known by his nickname Paja; (10 July 1926 - 1 October 1988) was a Serbian actor, known as one of the most recognisable faces of former Yugoslav cinema....
- Milutin Topalović - Mija AleksićMija AleksicMilosav "Mija" Aleksić was a beloved Serbian actor.Aleksić was born in Gornja Crnuća village in Gornji Milanovac municipality, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. During World War II, when Axis powers occupied the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 17-year-old Mija Aleksić attended high school in Kragujevac...
- Aksentije Topalović - Milivoje Tomić - Maksimilijan Topalović
- Radislav Lazarević - Pantelija Topalović
- Zoran RadmilovićZoran RadmilovicZoran Radmilović was a Serbian actor, beloved for some of the most memorable roles in the history of former Yugoslav cinema....
- Bili Pithon - Seka SablićSeka SablicJelisaveta "Seka" Sablić is an awarded Serbian actress. She is named one of the best Serbian actresses in history...
- Kristina - Bora TodorovićBora TodorovicBorivoje "Bora" Todorović is a Serbian actor...
- Đenka - Melita Bihali - Olja the maid
- Fahro Konjhodžić - Mr Rajković
- Veljko Mandić - Mr Rajković's brother
- Bata PaskaljevićBata PaskaljevićMihajlo "Bata" Paskaljević was a Serbian stage, film, and television actor, permanent member of the Belgrade Drama Theatre since 1950....
- Older gendarme - Dragoljub-Gula Milosavljević - (as Dragoljub Milosavljević)
- Miroslav Jovanović - Twin I
- Dragoslav Jovanović - Twin II
- Milovan Tasić - Giant
- Milan Janjić - Midget
- Ras Rastoder - Younger gendarme
- Stanojlo Milinković - Villager
- Vojislav Micović - Old man at the cemetery
- Nebojsa Topić - Priest
- Nikola Brodarac - Deceased