Murina

hardworking but asshole balkan dad trope still strong

The film is a beautifully shot, powerful drama that features excellent performances from its cast. While it may have some pacing issues, the film is still a must-see for those who enjoy coming-of-age stories and poignant family dramas.

MURINA--the Croatian word for moray eel--is a slippery coming of age tale where family power dynamics take on operatic scale in the beautiful and brutal isolation of the Adriatic coast. A stellar debut for director and star.

A smart, well-directed debut that nonetheless didn’t do much for me. It’s just a little too quiet and a little too subdued for me, but I admired the performances from the central quartet and the nuance that they and director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović brought to these otherwise archetypal characters. Lovely first and last shots.

Danica Curcic is good as always but maybe it was the cultural difference, but I didn't really relate to the family dynamic of the film.

(EEL TANK)

baskıcı babası var, hırvat kız.

Sensitive, yet raw and edgy coming of age drama about very angst of trying to escape -- she lives in what everyone would call paradise, a seaside home in Croatia, but her father just makes hers and her mom's life hell on earth every day. Good direction, always focused on gesture and eye contact -- sometimes it feels like something is about to happen, specially an act of violence, a sudden escape, or just a surprise kiss. Leading girl is brilliant.