Druzba Isusova

I watched this film at Mill Valley Film Festival. Really poetic, aesthetic and hypnotic! Masterfully performed by an all-star Croatian cast, director Silvije Petranovic's tale of repression and religion takes place in 17th-century Eastern Europe and is critic of the Church without God. As historic drama goes on you can easy substitute power hungry Jesuits with past, current or future politics over the Balkans region and you will have whole new meaning. This is really European Art film. When you are tired with American productions film like this can help. Music is performed by Armenian virtuoso Djivan Gasparyan. Gorgeous produced and directed especially as this is director's debut!

Upon seeing this movie, all I can say is "bravo". It slides gently like flowing poetry, the subtle music blending ever so slightly with the imagery, and the dialogue is so honest, so true to the characters, that I am profoundly stunned. It is apparent, however, that this movie is very "art", as well as very "european", and it is not ashamed of that, so the pace of the film might not be to everyone's liking. I, on the other hand, adored it. The performance of Ivica Vidovic is breathtaking. I have seen him in many films and TV-shows, but I don't think he has ever been this good. The man, unlike most other actors, truly is an artist. Leona Paraminski delivers a solid, if not masterful, Countess Maria, and I do dare say she has a bright future ahead of her. Milan Plestina is beyond description. Wow! There are, however, some flaws (like the fact that the scenes which are the climax of the movie, dramatically, are not climaxfull enough, if you ask me), but we must never loose sight that this is a debut-film. A first, and already so good. "The society of Jesus" is filled with brave metaphors, as well as splendid symbolism, so it will make you think long after the credits roll.

It fills me with hope that one of Croatia's own made this movie, as that means there may yet be hope for the country's cinematography, which is currently soiling itself with absolutely contempt-worthy soap operas.

BRAVO!