The film MALESH [On Serbian MALEŠ] is important because it explores a wondrous world in which family traditions with deep roots on the Balkans closes all doors for the future. This is a topic that is little treated in the local cinema, and therefore represents a challenge.

In a man’s world, a woman who decides not to give posterity, gets exiled or chooses exile herself. Mother, heroine of the film MALESH, chose an ultimate exile, taking her three daughters with her.

*Serbian version below / Srpska verzija teksta nalazi se ispod

CONTEXT

Balkans, a place of explosive encounters of East and West. The last ray of orient and post-apocalyptic flower of the golden socialism. Ground sprouting unordinary families. Place where the extension of the family line is a woman’s biggest responsibility.

In this story, although seemingly normal at first, nothing truly is. The situation goes out of control at the youngest daughter’s 19th birthday, when Mother's struggle comes to its peak, as well as its fiasco at the same time.

This is a story of a vanishing world, a world made of four women, torn between an undeniable desire for family extension, and the freedom they are familiar with only in their imagination.

Film’s director Ivan Bakrač and screenwriter Bane Jevtić, along with DP Dušan Grubin and production designer Dragana Baćović, are a well-coordinated team working on their fourth mutual film. They’ve been working on film MALESH for almost a year now.

From the idea, to the script development and carefully chosen cast that are, as authors agree, unique in their authenticity, being the only ones that can create this layered story, its symbolism, as well as aesthetics, film MALESH is a one of a kind project asking for your support!

With your help, we can achieve so much with this film. Your contribution will be supporting a truly incredible team of filmmakers, from budding artists to established, award-winning creators. We truly believe this is a team you'll want to get behind.

CAST

"As soon as I read Bane’s script, firstly I laughed my ass off, and then cried my eyes out over the life of the woman I was supposed to play. I’m looking forward to working with Bane since he made his first acting steps in my theater troupe exactly 15 years ago."

Bebi Dol, the biggest pop star in Yugoslavia in the last 30 years.

 "Film Malesh is quite a challenge for me because it offers layering for dreaming up, as well as for the exciting play. I accepted a film role after a few decades since my last one and I chose this story cause I immediately fell in love with the script and the crew."

Hristina Popović, one of Serbia’s most popular actresses.

"This story is unique mostly because it differs from all of the films shot in the last several years, and this role is something I haven’t done or read before."

Maja Šuša, popular Serbian actress of the youngest generation.

"I worked with Ivan and Bane on their previous film, and I am honored to be in this company. I can’t wait for the shooting to begin! "

ABOUT AUTHORS

Ivan Bakrač and Bane Jevtić began their collaboration in 2010 on Bakrač’s graduation film called “A Small, Good Thing“. Two years later, in 2012, Ivan Bakrač made film “Wars”, based on the motives of Adam Haslett’s short story. A year later, in 2013, Ivan decided to shoot a short film based on the story and screenplay of Bane. Give the name of the film "Our skin is going to gray".

Bane Jevtić, an actor, writer and painter, was born in Belgrade, Serbia in 1978. After graduating acting, Bane played in almost every Belgrade theater, spreading his acting experiences on films, as well as television. Writing has been a passion of his for several years, while his screenwriting debut happened in 2013, for a film “Our skin is going to gray”, for which he even received a Best Script Award at 2014 Bašta Fest. At the moment, he is preparing a collection of short stories, as well as a script for his first feature-length film.

Screenwriter’s Explication

After reflecting for a very long time on the notion of freedom here and today, avoiding generalization and making it quite personal, I came up to an idea of writing some kind of my confession regarding this so wanted freedom I only have in theory. This tendency towards an ultimate freedom is ultimately the one creating prison.
Story’s core is a pathological ambition of realizing an idea whose premise is wrong, unquestionably bringing the story’s hero to the downfall, as well as sacrificing everything she has, in this case her whole family, for the sake of something unattainable.

Ivan Bakrač, born in Nikšić, Montenegro in 1987. He received his Masters degree in Film Directing at Faculty of Arts and Design. He directed several short and medium-length films, also working as a screenwriter, editor and producer.
His films have been included in numerous international film festivals. Bakrač is this year’s participator of the Berlinale Talents program, as well as Talents Sarajevo. He is currently working on his first feature-length film.

Director’s Explication

Bane Jevtić’s script, besides its originality, caught my attention mostly because of its extremely unique and realistic atmosphere, creating a fantastic visual potential. This script offered me numerous possibilities for exploration, playing with forms, media etc. As a result, we are given the opportunity to create one specific world that looks different from the ones we’ve had the chance of seeing in previous short films.

Ivan's and Bane's collaborations:

Film WARS


Bane Jevtić was collaborator on the script.
The film "Wars" was noticed in a lot of international festivals, and some of them are:
* Kustendorf International Film Festival (Premiere)
* Athens International Film + Video Festival, Ohio (Oscar Qualifying)
* Zoom Zblizenia International Film Festival - The Best Student Film Award
* Zlín International Film Festival
* Long Island International Film Expo
* Let's Cee Film Festival


Film OUR SKIN IS GOING TO GRAY


Regardless of the poor production support, this film achieved great success at various international festivals:
* London Film Festival
* Belo Horizonte International Short Film Festival
* Thess International Short Film Festival - Cinematic Achievement Award
* Bašta Fest  - 'Golden inspiration' Award for the best screenplay
* Tirana International Film Festival
* Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival

Why did we choose Indiegogo?

We chose Indiegogo in the spirit of sharing and caring. Having you all involved at the launch of this project brings such a great feeling of support and also inherently guidance. You are our audience and our moral supporters; our big spoons. We'll have you with us as we take this journey of filmmaking. Okay, enough with the corny stuff. But really, each contribution is deeply felt.

SRPSKA VERZIJA

_____________________

Film Maleš je važan zato što istražuje jedan začudan svet porodice u kojoj ukorenjenost tradicije sa Balkanskih prostora zatvara sva vrata za budućnost. To je tema koja je jako malo obrađena u ovdašnjoj kinematografiji, i zbog toga predstavlja izazov.

U muškom svetu,  žena koja ne podari naslednika,  biva izgnana ili sama odabere izgnanstvo. Glavna junakinja filma Maleš je sa sobom u krajnje izgnanstvo povela i svoje tri ćerke. 

KONTEKST

Balkan, mesto eksplozivnog susreta istoka i zapada. Poslednji krak orijenta i postapokaliptični cvet zlatnog socijalizma. Tlo na kojem niču nesvakidašnje porodice. Mesto gde je produžetak porodične loze najveća obaveza žene.

U ovoj priči, na prvi pogled se čini da je ovde sve normalno, iako zapravo ništa nije. Cela situacija izmiče kontroli na 19. rođendan najmlađe ćerke, kada  borba majke dostiže vrhunac i fijasko istovremeno. 

Ovo je priča o jednom svetu koji nestaje, svetu koji čine četiri žene, rastrzane između velike želje za produženjem loze i slobode koju poznaju samo u mašti.

Reditelj Ivan Bakrač i scenarista Bane Jevtić su sa direktorom fotografije Dušanom Grubinom i scenografkinjom Draganom Baćović uigrana ekipa kojoj je ovo četvrti zajednički film, a na filmu Maleš zajedno rade već skoro godinu dana.

Od ideje, preko izrade scenarija, do pažljivo odabranih glumica koje su, po rečima autora, jedinstvene u svojoj autentičnosti, i kao takve jedine koju mogu da iznesu ovu slojevitu priču, simboliku, ali i estetiku.

PODLEA

Sonja Vukićević je čuvena balerina, koreograf i reditelj koja život posmatra širom otvorenih očiju.

„Čim sam pročitala Banetov scenario, prvo sam se sita ismejala, a  onda sam se rasplakala nad životom žene koju bi trebalo da igram. Jako se radujem saradnji sa Banetom jer je on prve glumačke korake napravio u mojoj pozorišnoj trupi pre tačno 15 godina“

Bebi Dol, najveća pop zvezda u Jugoslaviji u poslednjih 30 godina.

„Film Maleš je za mene izazov jer nudi slojevitost kako za razmaštavanje, tako i za uzbudljivu igru. Nakon nekoliko decenija sam prihvatila ulogu na filmu, jer sam se u scenario i u ekipu zaljubila na prvo gledanje”

Hristina Popović, trenutno jedna od najpopularnijih glumica u Srbiji.

„Ova priča je jedinstvena pre svega po tome što se razlikuje od svih kinematografskih u poslednjih nekoliko godina, a moja uloga je nešto sa čim se nisam do sada susretala“

Maja Šuša, popularna glumica najmlađe generacije.

„Sa Ivanom i Banetom sam sarađivala na njihovom prethodnom filmu, čast mi je što sam u ovom društvu i odbrojavam dane do početka snimanja” 

O AUTORIMA

Bane Jevtić, glumac, pisac i slikar, rođen u Beogradu, Srbija, 1978.godine. Završio je glumu, i igrao u skoro svim beogradskim pozorištima, na filmu i televiziji. Pisanjem se bavi dugi niz godina, a scenaristički debi mu je scenario za film “Koža će nam postati siva” (2013.), za koju je i dobio nagradu “Zlatna inspiracija” za najbolji scenario na Bašta Festu 2014.godine. Priprema prvu zbirku kratkih priča, a planira i scenario za prvi dugometražni film.

Scenaristička eksplikacija

Nakon dugog promišljanja o pojmu slobode ovde i danas, ne generalizujući istu, već vrlo na ličnom planu, došao sam na ideju da napišem svoju ispovest o jako željenoj slobodi koju imam samo naizgled. Težnja ka potpunoj slobodi je ona koja koja zapravo stvara zatvor. Srž priče je  patološka ambicija za ostvarenjem ideje čija je premisa pogrešna, koja neminovno mora dovesti idejnika u propast, kao i žrtvovanje svega što ima, u ovom slučaju cele porodice, zarad nečega što je nedostižno. Majka je napravila takvu porodičnu atmosferu da nijedna od ćerki ne odlazi od kuće, svi su simbiotski vezani i ostaju da žive izolovane, prihvatajući nametnutu ideju da je ovaj zatvor njihova jedina sloboda.

Ivan Bakrač, rođen je u Nikšiću 1987.godine. Završio je Master studije za filmsku režiju na Fakultetu za umetnost i dizajn. Režirao je nekoliko kratkih i srednjemetražnih filmova, a radio je i kao scenarista, montažer i producent. Njegovi filmovi su učestvovali na raznim internacionalnim filmskim festivalima. Ovogodišnji je učesnik programa Berlinale talents, i Talents Sarajevo. Pored filma „Maleš“ priprema i svoj prvi dugometražni film pod nazivom "Posle zime".

Rediteljska eksplikacija

Tekst Baneta Jevtića, osim zbog svoje originalnosti, privukao me je najviše zbog veoma zanimljive atmosfere koja pruža veliki vizuelni potencijal. Ovaj scenario ponudio mi je razne mogućnosti za istraživanje, igranje sa formama, medijima... I kao rezultat može se dobiti jedan specifičan svijet, koji izgleda drugačije od većine onih koje danas možemo vidjeti u kratkim filmovima.

Ivanove i Banetove saradnje:

Film RATOVI

Bane je na ovom Ivanovom filmu saradnik na scenariju. Film je zapažen na više međunarodnih festivala, a neki od njih su:

* Kustendorf International Film Festival (Premijera)
* Athens International Film + Video Festival, Ohio (Oscar Qualifying)
* Zoom Zblizenia International Film Festival - Nagrada za najbolji studentski film
* Zlín International Film Festival
* Long Island International Film Expo
* Let's Cee Film Festival

Film KOŽA ĆE NAM POSTATI SIVA

Sa ekipom iz prethodnog filma, po Banetovoj priči snimaju ovaj film bez budžeta. Bez obzira na slabu produkcionu podršku, ovaj film ostvaruje uspehe na raznim internacionalnim festivalima, neki od njih su:

* London Film Festival
* Belo Horizonte International Short Film Festival
* Thess International Short Film Festival - Cinematic Achievement Award
* Bašta Fest  - Nagrada 'Zlatna inspiracija' za najbolji scenario
* Tirana International Film Festival
* Beogradski festival kratkometražnog i dokumentarnog filma

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!