Zvonimir Berković
Encyclopedia
Zvonimir Berković was a Croatia
n film director and screenwriter.
Berković had studied film directing at the Zagreb Academy of Drama Arts. His screenwriting career began in the mid 1950s, his most notable work being Nikola Tanhofer
's 1958 film H-8
, for which he co-authored the screenplay with Tomislav Butorac.
He had his directing debut with the 1962 documentary short My Flat (Moj stan), which offered an ironic portrayal of living standards in the socialist-style prefabricated housing projects. The film earned him a Special Jury Prize at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival
. His feature directing debut was the 1966 film Rondo
, which starred acclaimed Yugoslav actors Relja Bašić
, Milena Dravić
and Stevo Žigon
, and which is today regarded as a classic of Yugoslav and Croatian cinema.
After Rondo, Berković directed a handful of films through the 1970s and 1980s and his only other notable work was the 1993 film Countess Dora
(Kontesa Dora), which portrayed an episode in the life of 19th century Croatian composer Dora Pejačević
and which starred Alma Prica
and Rade Šerbedžija
. The film won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the 1993 Pula Film Festival
.
In the 1990s Berković stopped making films and turned to teaching at the Zagreb Academy of Drama Arts, and was also a notable columnist writing music, theatre and film reviews for Globus
, a popular current affairs weekly, and was a longtime head of dramaturgy
at the Zagreb-based film production company Jadran Film
.
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.
Berković had studied film directing at the Zagreb Academy of Drama Arts. His screenwriting career began in the mid 1950s, his most notable work being Nikola Tanhofer
Nikola Tanhofer
Nikola Tanhofer was a Croatian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. His film It Was Not in Vain was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival.-Filmography:* Plavi 9...
's 1958 film H-8
H-8 (film)
H-8 is a 1958 Yugoslavian film by Croatian director Nikola Tanhofer . The movie is based on a true story, in which the driver that caused a fatal 1957 bus-truck collision was never identified...
, for which he co-authored the screenplay with Tomislav Butorac.
He had his directing debut with the 1962 documentary short My Flat (Moj stan), which offered an ironic portrayal of living standards in the socialist-style prefabricated housing projects. The film earned him a Special Jury Prize at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. His feature directing debut was the 1966 film Rondo
Rondo (film)
Rondo is a 1966 Yugoslavian film by Croatian director Zvonimir Berković. It was filmed in Zagreb, Croatia .-Plot:...
, which starred acclaimed Yugoslav actors Relja Bašić
Relja Bašic
Relja Bašić is a Croatian actor.A native of Zagreb , Bašić is one of the most prolific and versatile Croatian actors with a career which lasts for more than half a century. He first appeared on screen in 1954 classic film Koncert...
, Milena Dravić
Milena Dravic
Milena Dravić is a Serbian actress.Born in Belgrade, Dravić was involved with the performing arts from the age of four: first with dance and later classical ballet...
and Stevo Žigon
Stevo Žigon
Stevo Žigon was a famous Serbian and Slovenian actor, theatre director, and writer. His origins were primary Italian....
, and which is today regarded as a classic of Yugoslav and Croatian cinema.
After Rondo, Berković directed a handful of films through the 1970s and 1980s and his only other notable work was the 1993 film Countess Dora
Countess Dora
Countess Dora is a 1993 Croatian film directed by Zvonimir Berković. It was Croatia's submission to the 66th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.-See also:*Cinema of Croatia...
(Kontesa Dora), which portrayed an episode in the life of 19th century Croatian composer Dora Pejačević
Dora Pejacevic
Dora Pejačević was a Croatian composer, a member of Pejačević noble family.-Biography:Dora Pejačević was born in Budapest, a daughter of Croatian ban Teodor Pejačević and Hungarian Countess Lilla Vay de Vaya, herself a fine pianist. Her mother gave her first piano lessons...
and which starred Alma Prica
Alma Prica
Alma Prica is a Croatian actress. She graduated from the Zagreb Academy of Drama Arts in 1985 and then joined the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in 1986...
and Rade Šerbedžija
Rade Šerbedžija
Rade Šerbedžija , occasionally credited as Rade Sherbedgia in some English-language productions, is a Croatian actor, director and musician of Serb origin. He was one of the most popular Yugoslav actors in the 1970s and 1980s. He is now internationally known mainly for his supporting roles in...
. The film won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the 1993 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....
.
In the 1990s Berković stopped making films and turned to teaching at the Zagreb Academy of Drama Arts, and was also a notable columnist writing music, theatre and film reviews for Globus
Globus (weekly)
Globus is a Croatian weekly news magazine published in Zagreb.The magazine was started in 1990, having some of its first issues published during the Croatian War of Independence. Originally devised as tabloid, it never took an openly chauvinist approach of Slobodni tjednik and always tried to give...
, a popular current affairs weekly, and was a longtime head of dramaturgy
Dramaturgy
Dramaturgy is the art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. Dramaturgy is a distinct practice separate from play writing and directing, although a single individual may perform any combination of the three. Some dramatists combine writing and...
at the Zagreb-based film production company Jadran Film
Jadran Film
Jadran Film is a film production studio and distribution company founded in 1946 in Zagreb, Croatia. In the period between the early 1960s and late 1980s Jadran Film was one of the biggest and most notable film studios in Central Europe, with some 145 international and around 120 Yugoslav...
.
Filmography
- RondoRondo (film)Rondo is a 1966 Yugoslavian film by Croatian director Zvonimir Berković. It was filmed in Zagreb, Croatia .-Plot:...
(1966) - The Scene of the CrashThe Scene of the Crash-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(Putovanje na mjesto nesreće, 1971) - Love Letters with IntentLove Letters with Intent-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(Ljubavna pisma s predumišljajem, 1985) - Countess DoraCountess DoraCountess Dora is a 1993 Croatian film directed by Zvonimir Berković. It was Croatia's submission to the 66th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.-See also:*Cinema of Croatia...
(Kontesa Dora, 1993)
External links
- Zvonimir Berković at Allmovie
- Zvonimir Berković biography at Filmski-Programi.hr