Želimir Žilnik
Encyclopedia
Želimir Žilnik is a Serbian
film director
. He is noted for his socially engaging style and criticism of censorship
that was commonplace during the Yugoslav communist era. Subsequently, following the abolition of communist one-party system, he was an outspoken critic of Slobodan Milošević
-led regime in Serbia.
in 1969 for his feature film
Rani radovi
(Early Works) which depicted the aftermath of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
.
During the early 1970s he was criticized and his works were quite often banned due their portrayal of student
demonstrations
and their advocacy of freedom of media and speech
. Between 1973 and 1976 he found work for several independent German
production companies. In conjunction with these companies he directed two documentaries dealing with anarcho
-terrorism
; Öffentliche Hinrichtung and Paradies
. In Yugoslavia
he found work in theatre production but returned to his previous work with documentaries.
In the 1980s his works began to garner more attention and were successfully presented on several television networks and at local and international festivals. In 1985 he made Pretty Women Walking Through the City which predicted that nationalistic tensions will cause the disintegration of Yugoslavia
. His 1988 his black comedy Tako se kalio čelik (The Way Steel Was Tempered) was nominated for a Golden St. George award at the Moscow International Film Festival
in the Soviet Union
.
In 1994 he wrote and directed Tito's Second Time Among the Serbs, and helped initiate one of Serbia
's independent media outlets, b92
in Belgrade. His 1995 feature film Marble Ass was a look at the myth built around the masculinity of the male as a warrior and leader.
Recently he has directed several documentaries dealing with the commonality of the Central
and Eastern Europe
and the problems with immigration to and from Europe
with the same style and narrative that had gained him recognition for many years.
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He is noted for his socially engaging style and criticism of censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
that was commonplace during the Yugoslav communist era. Subsequently, following the abolition of communist one-party system, he was an outspoken critic of Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
-led regime in Serbia.
Career
He won his first awards, a Golden Berlin Bear and a Youth Film Award at the Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
in 1969 for his feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Rani radovi
Rani radovi
Rani radovi is a 1969 Yugoslavian film by Serbian author Želimir Žilnik. It critically depicts the aftermath of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. It won the Golden Bear at the 19th Berlin International Film Festival in 1969.-Cast:...
(Early Works) which depicted the aftermath of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
.
During the early 1970s he was criticized and his works were quite often banned due their portrayal of student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
demonstrations
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
and their advocacy of freedom of media and speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
. Between 1973 and 1976 he found work for several independent German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
production companies. In conjunction with these companies he directed two documentaries dealing with anarcho
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
-terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
; Öffentliche Hinrichtung and Paradies
Paradies
The term Paradies may refer to*Paradies , an album by Silly*Paradies , a song by Die Toten Hosen*Paradies , a district of Constance*Paradies, a film by Želimir Žilnik...
. In Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
he found work in theatre production but returned to his previous work with documentaries.
In the 1980s his works began to garner more attention and were successfully presented on several television networks and at local and international festivals. In 1985 he made Pretty Women Walking Through the City which predicted that nationalistic tensions will cause the disintegration of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. His 1988 his black comedy Tako se kalio čelik (The Way Steel Was Tempered) was nominated for a Golden St. George award at the Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
In 1994 he wrote and directed Tito's Second Time Among the Serbs, and helped initiate one of 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...
's independent media outlets, b92
B92
B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
in Belgrade. His 1995 feature film Marble Ass was a look at the myth built around the masculinity of the male as a warrior and leader.
Recently he has directed several documentaries dealing with the commonality of the Central
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
and the problems with immigration to and from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with the same style and narrative that had gained him recognition for many years.
Selected filmography
- Stara škola kapitalizmaStara škola kapitalizmaStara škola kapitalizma is a 2009 feature film directed by Serbian director Želimir Žilnik.-Plot:...
(The Old School of Capitalism) (2009) - Kenedi se ženi (Kenedi is Getting Married) (2007)
- Kenedi se vraca kuci (Kenedi Goes Back Home) (2003)
- Tvrdjava Evropa (Fortress EuropeFortress EuropeFortress Europe was a military propaganda term from the Second World War which referred to the areas of Continental Europe occupied by Nazi Germany, as opposed to the free United Kingdom across the Channel...
) (2001) - Kud plovi ovaj brod (Wanderlust) (1999)
- Marble Ass (Marble Ass) (1995)
- Tito po drugi put medju Srbima (Tito Among the Serbs for the Second Time) (1993)
- Tako se kalio čelik (The way Steel was Tempered) (1988)
- Abschied (Farewell) (1976)
- Paradies (Paradise) (1976)
- Rani radoviRani radoviRani radovi is a 1969 Yugoslavian film by Serbian author Želimir Žilnik. It critically depicts the aftermath of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. It won the Golden Bear at the 19th Berlin International Film Festival in 1969.-Cast:...
(Early Works) (1969)
See also
- Rani radoviRani radoviRani radovi is a 1969 Yugoslavian film by Serbian author Želimir Žilnik. It critically depicts the aftermath of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. It won the Golden Bear at the 19th Berlin International Film Festival in 1969.-Cast:...
- Moscow International Film FestivalMoscow International Film FestivalMoscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
- Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalThe Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
External links
- Wolfram Schuette, "Critical and destructive: Zelimir Zilnik's 'Early Works'", in: ART IN SOCIETY, No. 3 (http://www.art-in-society.de/AS3/Schuette.shtml)