Murina

Cowriter (with Frank Graziano)/director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's Camera d'or winning feature debut recharges the coming-of-age story with multi-generational sexual heat and a constant threat of danger in a sun-splashed, Adriatic setting. Before the man Ante describes as 'god on earth' arrives, Julija dutifully accompanies her father to spearfish for the titular eels before returning to her room where she watches vacationing teenagers flirt on a yacht below her window.

When she's not capturing the sparkling sea and dramatic underwater scenes, cinematographer Hélène Louvart ("The Lost Daughter") uses angles like these to add weight to the viewer's point of view - Murina will look down again from a height at a very different type of flirting (and we will gaze up at her, a statuesque sea nymph in an aqua one piece). There will also be tight spaces promising danger, like the rocks Ante recklessly pilots a boat through or the underwater crevice Julija risks for an escape.

Then Javier arrives and he appears to be everything Ante is not, appreciative of the women's beauty, encouraging Julija to expand her dreams and think of going to Harvard. Javier's attentions make Julija bolder and Ante angrier. Julija tells Nela that Javier is obviously in love with her and that they should leave with him, but the older beauty knows better. Afraid that his daughter's rebellious behavior will sink his business deal, Ante does what she's been accusing him of wanting to do, literally locking her up in a boathouse. The man needs to watch his back.

Kusijanovic counters sensuality with tension throughout, accentuated by the tautly vibrating violins of "Loveless" composers Evgueni and Sasha Galperine. The overlapping interplay of two sets of three, the dysfunctional family and the flirtatious love triangle, is beautifully acted, Filipovic wordlessly displaying mercurial emotions between the extremes of Lucev and Curtis. "Murina" is a bold and beautiful expression of one young woman's bolt for freedom.

Adolescence is a time for finding oneself, especially when it comes to our sense of personal power. That's rarely easy, but it can be especially difficult for a teenage girl trapped in a household with a chauvinistic father, a condition not uncommon in many traditional Eastern European households. Such is the fate of a quiet but independently minded Croatian adolescent who longs for freedom from under the thumb of her domineering dad and capitulating mother. But the potential for profound change arises when a wealthy old friend of her father pays a visit to their coastal fishing village, one that could transform her life and that of her mother, provided they have the courage to act on it. Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's debut feature from Executive Producer Martin Scorsese presents an intense, intimate character study of an individual's search for empowerment in the face of oppressing odds and confusing circumstances that, like the clandestine behavior of the moray eels she and her father routinely hunt, deceptively conceal much of what's actually going on. This winner of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival Golden Camera Award for best first feature simmers slowly but builds tension well, engaging viewers handily, despite some repetitive narrative elements and occasional "atmospheric" camera work whose deliberate murkiness goes a little overboard in metaphorically depicting the intended character of the story. A number of films with themes similar to those explored here have emerged from this region in recent years, such as "Hive" (2021) and "God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya" (2019). That's an indication that there's a need for the expression of these notions, and, thankfully, filmmakers have successfully risen to the occasion, making the world more aware about conditions for women desperately in need of reform.

Julija loves the sea and to foray, but is she the metaphorical moray, trapped in a creel, caught on a reel, with a father that treats her as quarry.

Beautiful film, top drawer performances, growing up can be tough!

Outstanding and well directed story which unfortunately didn't totally convince me due to some setting/plot and acting weakness. I won't spoil the storyline/script problems I found (I assume the english subbing was faithful): they are not really important but prevented me to fully enjoy the film.

G. Filipovic, the absolute protagonist - though a talented mediterranean beauty and a pleasure to watch (the writer/director agrees and indulges in a lot of revealing swimsuit shots) - doesn't always show a proper range. In some instances either fails to convince (not conveying the dramatic tension required in some scenes) or gets out of character (turning from silly girl to wise housewife to plotting homewrecker and back with too much ease) - proving that eyes actually lie.

Overall though, a very good drama about a family living in a secluded villa on the croatian coastline, and inexorably disintegrating when an affluent friend considers investing in the land.

As an insignificant side note: I'd have likely never watched this movie if it hadn't won the Cannes' "camera d'or" prize over "Rien a foutre" which recently made a great impression on me. Another drama about a young woman. Another film that deserves to be watched - though IMO not in the same category.

Writer/Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's debut feature is all it could be from a director who also used to dive in the film's idyllic Croatian coast setting.

This films builds on the director's underwater camera work in her enjoyable short Into the Blue (2017), and in acting and screen presence of actress Gracija Filipovic. This feature was in fact written with this teenage actor/non-actor in mind after the short. Gracia was 12 yr old then and showed promise and shines 4 years later in this character study.

The story has strong writing as it tackles teenage rebellion, family and relationship dynamics with evolving dreams of love, sexuality, freedom and purpose.

The father, mother and daughter relationships are complicated in this small village and when a wealthy, well-travelled long-time friend comes to spend some time with the family, much is revealed of the desires and dissatisfactions of all three family members.

The directing, cinematography and editing of this evolving drama are so strong that every shot of the 96 min movie is a pleasure. The acting is nuanced and elevated from the four leads. The underwater shots are beautiful and tell the story with images, sounds and occasional music. The first and final long shots of the movie tell a tight story visually that induce emotions viscerally and intellectually.

It is no surprise that the film won Camera d'Or at Cannes and over 20 other awards in 65 film festival worldwide.

Looking forward to Antoneta's next film which centers on a mother and daughter relationship and perhaps also catching some of her previous shorts, including If We Must Die (2016).

In short, this is a melancholic, beautiful drama with stunning cinematography and deft directing. A simple story with substance. Highly recommended.