Tito i ja

Goran Markovic, known more for his dramatic work, achieved something that's eluded many great filmmakers - both smart and funny comedy. Based loosely on his own life as a kid growing up in Tito's communist Yugoslavia in the 1950s, the movie centers around 10-year-old Zoran whose inspired poem about Tito written on a spur-of-the-moment-basis as an in-class assignment, earns him a trip with other deserving pupils retracing Tito's "revolutionary trails" in Tito's hometown of Kumrovec.

One gets the feeling that this film was 25 years in the making and that Markovic had this idea all throughout his career but was just waiting for the right political atmosphere to finally make it.

Movie is very heartwarming even though it hints at many unpleasant aspects of the communist regime in Yugoslavia. It doesn't give into the temptation of using this setting to get cheap and obvious laughs or to sprinkle in personal political statements together with the humour. Instead, it deals with everything in a light but intelligent manner, takes time to set up the supporting characters and delivers fabulous entertainment.

Great stuff.

When this film was made in 1992 Yugoslavia entered its bloody wars of disintegration.

Author wanted to show to the public that love of the Marshal Tito by his peoples at the same time carried seeds of the wars which were conducted between 1992 and 1995.

Just as any Communist leader he created cult of the personality around himself and a very dangerous clique of the inner circle and even more dangerous Yugoslav National Army (JNA) which in the end decided to shoot at its own peoples.

Just as we all found out that it was all a farce in the end, so does the principle character finds out that he was an idiot by writing about Tito that he loves him more then his own parents. How in the Earth a Serb kid could write something like that about a Croat?

If you are interested in the former Yugoslavia this is a must see.

This is among the best films I've ever seen.

The movie is a tribute to individuality. Zoran is a 10-year-old boy but he is his own man despite being surrounded by peer pressure and communist propaganda. There are so many quirks in his personality that one can't help but to like him.

It is the kind of movie that would not get made in Hollywood in a million years.

Narrated by the main protagonist - 10-year old Zoran, "Tito i ja" uses plenty of comedic tones, warm atmosphere," and almost takes shape of a family movie in order to poke fun at the cult of Tito in the former Yugoslavia and to pinpoint cracks and contortions in the Yugoslav society during the communist period. Young Dimitrie Vojnov gives a heartfelt performance as Zoran who was not only able to hold his own amidst all the peer pressure and propaganda, but actually effected people around him. In the supporting cast, Lazar Ristovski of the "Underground" fame got another outstanding role under his belt as a dogmatic "young pioneers" instructor driven to suicide by Zoran's unrealized nonconformity.

This is one of my favorite movies. Its amazing humor, excellent characters flawlessly brought to life by great actors, interesting, funny, yet serious and many-sided story is one of best Serbian movies ever. Zoran is chunky 10-year old living in a house which his parents share with his grandmother, and aunt and uncle. During the communism in Serbia, ruled by popular dictator,Tito, many homes were taken away from their owners. Zoran's family is, unlike most, against Tito's dictature. Zoran, however, sees Tito as his personal hero, as a great man. His learned in school that Tito is greatest man ever, and, for a kid, this propaganda was very believable. Zoran will, during a field trip learn more about his hero, without meeting him, of course. Yet, in order to understand the whole greatness, you have to know Serbian people very well, and know their temper. Only that way, this movies amazing humor will be understandable.