Vatroslav Mimica
Encyclopedia
Vatroslav Mimica is an award-winning Croatia
n film director and screenwriter.
Mimica had enrolled at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine before the outbreak of World War II
. In 1942 he joined Young Communist League of Yugoslavia
(SKOJ) and in 1943 he went on to join the Yugoslav Partisans, becoming a member of their medical units. After the war Mimica wrote literary and film reviews, and his career in filmmaking began in 1950 when he became the director of the Jadran Film production studio.
He had his directorial and screenwriting debut in the 1952 Yugoslav film In the Storm (Croatian
: U oluji) which starred Veljko Bulajić
, Mia Oremović
and Antun Nalis
. In the 1950s Mimica worked as a director and writer on a number of critically acclaimed animated films and became a prominent member of the Zagreb School of Animated Films
(his 1958 animated short film The Loner (Samac) was awarded the Venice Grand Prix), along with authors such as Vlado Kristl
and Academy Award-winning Dušan Vukotić
.
In the 1960s Mimica moved away from animation (his last animated film was 1971 film The Firemen (Vatrogasci)) and turned to directing feature films, starting with the 1961 Yugoslav-Italian film Suleiman the Conqueror (Italian
: Solimano il conquistatore) starring Edmund Purdom
and Giorgia Moll
. His 1965 film Prometheus of the Island
(Prometej s otoka Viševice) won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the 1965 Pula Film Festival
and earned Mimica a runner-up Silver Arena award for Best Director. The following year his 1966 film Monday or Tuesday (Ponedjeljak ili utorak) also won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film and Mimica won the Golden Arena for Best Director
.
Mimica made several other films through the 1970s, most notably the period films Peasant revolt of 1573 (Seljačka buna 1573.), depicting the 16th century Croatian-Slovenian peasant revolt, and The Falcon
(Banović Strahinja), set in 14th century Serbia
, before retiring from filmmaking in 1981.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n film director and screenwriter.
Mimica had enrolled at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1942 he joined Young Communist League of Yugoslavia
Young Communist League of Yugoslavia
Young Communist League of Yugoslavia, commonly known by its abbreviation SKOJ was the youth wing of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia from 1919 to 1948...
(SKOJ) and in 1943 he went on to join the Yugoslav Partisans, becoming a member of their medical units. After the war Mimica wrote literary and film reviews, and his career in filmmaking began in 1950 when he became the director of the Jadran Film production studio.
He had his directorial and screenwriting debut in the 1952 Yugoslav film In the Storm (Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
: U oluji) which starred Veljko Bulajić
Veljko Bulajic
Veljko Bulajić , today is a Croatian film director and actor of Montenegrin descent, most of his life working in Croatia...
, Mia Oremović
Mia Oremović
Mia Oremović was a Croatian theatre, film and television actress.-Selected filmography:*It Was Not in Vain *H-8 *I Have Two Mothers and Two Fathers *One Song a Day Takes Mischief Away...
and Antun Nalis
Antun Nalis
Antun Nalis , aka Tonči Nalis, was a Croatian actor.Antun Nalis was born in Zadar, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. After World War I Zadar became part of Italy, which later helped Nalis to play in Italian movies and portray Italian characters.Nalis began to build his film career...
. In the 1950s Mimica worked as a director and writer on a number of critically acclaimed animated films and became a prominent member of the Zagreb School of Animated Films
Zagreb School of Animated Films
Zagreb school of animated films is an animation film studio located in Zagreb, Croatia and is a part of the Zagreb Film company. It is represented by authors like Nikola Kostelac, Vatroslav Mimica, Dušan Vukotić and Vladimir Kristl...
(his 1958 animated short film The Loner (Samac) was awarded the Venice Grand Prix), along with authors such as Vlado Kristl
Vlado Kristl
Vladislav "Vlado" Kristl was a filmmaker and artist from Zagreb, Croatia, best known for his celebrated animations and short films....
and Academy Award-winning Dušan Vukotić
Dušan Vukotic
Dušan Vukotić was an award-winning cartoonist, author and director of animated films from Yugoslavia. He is the best known member of the Zagreb school of animated films....
.
In the 1960s Mimica moved away from animation (his last animated film was 1971 film The Firemen (Vatrogasci)) and turned to directing feature films, starting with the 1961 Yugoslav-Italian film Suleiman the Conqueror (Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Solimano il conquistatore) starring Edmund Purdom
Edmund Purdom
Edmund Anthony Cutlar Purdom was a British actor.-Early life:Purdom was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England and educated at St. Augustine's Abbey School, Ramsgate, then by the Jesuits at St. Ignatius Grammar School and Welwyn Garden City Grammar School...
and Giorgia Moll
Giorgia Moll
Giorgia Moll, born in Rome, Province of Pordenone, is an Italian actress.-Selected filmography:* 1956 : Mio figlio Nerone by Steno : Lidia* 1956 : Club de femmes by Ralph Habib : Gina...
. His 1965 film Prometheus of the Island
Prometheus of the Island
Prometheus of the Island , also known in English as Prometheus from the island of Viševica, is a 1964 Yugoslav film directed by Vatroslav Mimica....
(Prometej s otoka Viševice) won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the 1965 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....
and earned Mimica a runner-up Silver Arena award for Best Director. The following year his 1966 film Monday or Tuesday (Ponedjeljak ili utorak) also won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film and Mimica won the Golden Arena for Best Director
Golden Arena for Best Director
The Golden Arena for Best Director is an award given for best director at the Pula Film Festival, which was until 1992 the Yugoslav equivalent of the Academy Awards. Since 1992 and the breakup of Yugoslavia the competition narrowed to Croatian films only...
.
Mimica made several other films through the 1970s, most notably the period films Peasant revolt of 1573 (Seljačka buna 1573.), depicting the 16th century Croatian-Slovenian peasant revolt, and The Falcon
Banović Strahinja (film)
Banovic Strahinja is a 1983 Yugoslavian film.-Plot:During the late 14th century Serbia becomes the target of the Ottoman Empire. While the respected Serbian noble Strahinja Banovic is out hunting, a Turkish renegade gang burns his castle, kills all of his servants, and takes the young wife of...
(Banović Strahinja), set in 14th century 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...
, before retiring from filmmaking in 1981.
Filmography
- The Jubilee of Mr IkelThe Jubilee of Mr IkelThe Jubilee of Mr Ikel is a 1955 Yugoslav feature film directed by Vatroslav Mimica.-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(Jubilej gospodina Ikla, 1955) - Suleiman the Conqueror (Solimano il conquistatore, 1961)
- Prometheus of the IslandPrometheus of the IslandPrometheus of the Island , also known in English as Prometheus from the island of Viševica, is a 1964 Yugoslav film directed by Vatroslav Mimica....
(Prometej s otoka Viševice, 1964) - Monday or TuesdayMonday or Tuesday (film)Monday or Tuesday is an acclaimed 1966 Yugoslav drama film directed by Vatroslav Mimica starring Slobodan Dimitrijević. The film's title is a famous quote from Virginia Woolf's 1919 work Modern Fiction in which she described her approach to writing: "Examine for a moment an ordinary mind on an...
(Ponedjeljak ili utorak, 1966) - KayaKaya (film)Kaya, also known as Kaya, I'll Kill You is a 1967 Yugoslav feature film directed by Vatroslav Mimica.-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(Kaja, ubit ću te!, 1967) - An EventAn EventAn Event is a 1969 Yugoslav feature film directed by Vatroslav Mimica, based on a short story by Anton Chekhov.-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(Događaj, 1969) - The Fed OneThe Fed One-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(Hranjenik, 1970) - Anno Domini 1573Anno Domini 1573Anno Domini 1573 is a 1975 Yugoslav feature film directed by Vatroslav Mimica. It is a historical drama film depicting events surrounding the 1573 Croatian-Slovenian peasant revolt, with Fabijan Šovagović starring as Matija Gubec, the peasant leader....
(Seljačka buna 1573, 1975) - The Last Mission of Demolitions Man CloudThe Last Mission of Demolitions Man CloudThe Last Mission of Demolitions Man Cloud is a 1978 Yugoslav feature film directed by Vatroslav Mimica.-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(Posljednji podvig diverzanta Oblaka, 1978) - The FalconBanović Strahinja (film)Banovic Strahinja is a 1983 Yugoslavian film.-Plot:During the late 14th century Serbia becomes the target of the Ottoman Empire. While the respected Serbian noble Strahinja Banovic is out hunting, a Turkish renegade gang burns his castle, kills all of his servants, and takes the young wife of...
(Banović Strahinja, 1981)
External links
- Interview with Vatroslav Mimica at Kinoeye.com
- Vatroslav Mimica biography at Filmski-Programi.hr