“Celebration”, an interview with director Bruno Anković

Bruno Anković tells us more about his debut feature, “Celebration” (original title: “Proslava”), adapted from Damir Karakaš’ novel of the same name, published in 2019, and screened in competition at the 58th Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

The Croatian director explains why he wanted to show how easy it was for the Ustaše Militia – established by the fascist, anti Yugoslavia regime called Independent State of Croatia, a nazi puppet state – to recruit in poverty-stricken, religious and superstitious rural environments, and how this century-old story unfortunately still resonates today.

Bruno Anković tells us more about the non-linear way in which he chose to recount the story of Mijo, starting after WW2 when has to hide in the woods to escape punishment for his fascists alliances, through criss-crossing flashbacks to his childhood and teenage years around several determining traumatic moments.

We also discuss Mijo’s animality and actor Bernard Tomić‘s commitment to obtain this portrayal; the intrinsically good nature of the child and young man he was; life in the countryside and the shape of relationships (between humans, and humans and animals) in this environment; the use of light and darkness; the film’s soundscape and the only two songs which can be heard in his 86-minute running time.