Otac

A very sad story based on true events. Highly recommended

The Serbian film Otac (2020) was shown in the U. S. with the translated title Father. It was co-written and directed by Srdan Golubovic.

Goran Bogdan stars as Nikola--a worker who has been cheated of his severance pay by a factory at which he had been employed. He know works as a day laborer, doing difficult jobs whenever he can find them.

Despite his efforts, the municipality has taken his children from him. It's not a matter of right or wrong. It's a matter of a corrupt official who gains financially when children are put into foster care.

The movie shows us the immense sacrifices that Nikola makes to reunite his family. It's a great film about a man who refuses to be crushed.

We saw this film in Rochester's wonderful Dryden Theatre in The George Eastman Museum. It was shown as part of the outstanding Rochester Labor Film Series. Father has a strong IMDb rating of 7.6. I think it's a masterpiece, and rated it 10.

This is typical Serbian story. Many people really live like this in the Balkans. SO REAL!

I expected much more from Srdan Golubovic. I love Goran Bogdan but he did not fit me in this role. I was at the premiere tonight at FEST and was a little disappointed. Unexpectedly pretentious. To old glory 5/10.

I watched the movie premiere last night. Most of all I was touched by the children. And maybe that was the goal. As a viewer, that's enough for me, I enjoyed it. I read reviews that for some reason, the film overstates. Well done to Goran Bogdan and Hope Sargin too.