02/04/2025 - The Montenegrin actor has written and directed his debut feature, an existential drama film about a troubled actor-turned-director

Emir Ćatović in 15 and a Half (© Giggling Goat Production)

Acclaimed Montenegrin actor Milivoj Mišo Obradović has wrapped the shoot for his debut feature, 15 and a Half (15 i po). In this film-within-a-film, an actor-turned-director delves into his own inner turmoil and confronts the significant challenges that he must face.

The story follows 30-year-old Niko, a highly successful actor with a seemingly perfect life – a stable relationship, professional recognition, and supportive friends and family – who feels trapped in his routine and longs for change. Aspiring to become a filmmaker, he begins documenting the lives of those around him – his fiancée, parents, theatre colleagues and friends – in search of an authentic cinematic subject. However, his desire for reinvention is met with resistance from his loved ones. Realising that the most meaningful story he can tell is his own, he turns the camera inwards, making himself the protagonist of both his film and his life. To escape external pressures and confront his inner turmoil, he leaves everything behind and retreats to a remote island, where he spends months in solitude, grappling with a crucial dilemma: venture towards new horizons or return home?

The lead role has been entrusted to Emir Ćatović, and the cast includes Kristina Obradović, Lara Dragović, Petar Burić, Julija Milačić Petrović Njegoš, Vule Marković, Zoran Vujović and Dejan Ivanić. Milivoj Mišo Obradović, who wrote the script, describes 15 and a Half as an existential drama with elements of magical realism. According to him, a couple of years ago, the concept for the film took shape out of a desire to explore certain social phenomena through a personal perspective and a cinematic language.

15 and a Half is a low-budget project that has been in development since 2021. The first phase of filming was completed in late 2023 on the picturesque island of Ada Bojana, known for its natural beauty. The remaining scenes were shot in March across various locations in Podgorica. The crew includes Ivan Čojbašić as the director of photography, Nemanja Dragović as the editor, Lina Leković as the costume designer and Jelena Ivančević as the production designer.

The film is a Montenegrin production by Marko Jaćimović for Giggling Goat Production, in co-production with Atomic Production in Podgorica and Radio Television of Montenegro. The project has received funding from the Film Centre of Montenegro and the Secretariat for Culture of Podgorica. 15 and a Half is expected to be completed in August, with the premiere to be announced at a later date.