Predrag Lakovic Movies

Bosnian-born filmmaker Emir Kusturica made this farce, set in a Gypsy settlement along the banks of the Danube, where three generations of characters burst forth in manic and frenetic displays of charm, confusion, and chaos. Garbage dump godfather Grga Pitic (Sabri Sulejman) and cement czar Zarije Destanov (Zabit Memedov), both in their 80s, remain friends even though they haven't seen each other in 25 years. Zarije's son Matko Destanov (Bajram Severdzan) goes to Grga for a loan. Matko is double-crossed by his partner, gypsy gangster Dadan Karambolo (Srdan Todorovic), who demands that Matko's son, Zare Destanov (Florijan Ajdini), marry Dadan's small sister, Afrodita (Salija Ibraimova). Unfortunately, Afrodita and Zare have absolutely no interest in each other. Cute barmaid Ida (Branka Katic) and Zare fall in love and only have eyes for each other as plans get underway for the wedding of Zare and Afrodite. The sudden death of Zarije seems to offer a solution, since no gypsy would have a wedding and a funeral on the same day. However, Dadan delays the death announcement by hiding Zarije, packed in ice, in the attic. The wedding celebration gets underway amid numerous madcap mishaps and misadventures. With a soundtrack of gypsy music and songs, the funny film features numerous non-professionals in the cast. Shown in competition at the 1998 Venice Film Festival and at the 1998 New York Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

If this is, as it seems, a typical Yugoslavian comedy, the grim events taking place there in the 1990s seem more comprehensible. Grandpa Buda seems like he is one who can take everything in stride, just as it comes to him. When Marshall Tito dies, he invites the neighborhood gypsies into his back yard to listen to the television coverage of the events following that. Then he invites them inside. After a while, he invites them to live in the backyard permanently, which his family thinks is carrying goodwill a bit too far. He takes the accidental deafening of his grandson in stride, learning sign language to compensate for it. He even seems to take the theft (by a magpie) of his cherished gold retirement watch in stride, though he does spend much of his time searching the neighborhood for it. However, when he learns that his grown daughter's illness which he had been raising money for is a fake, he falls into a depression and kills himself. Apparently, this was one bearing-up too many. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In just one 24-hour period, the workers and students at a Czech school are thrown into an upheaval because of a few disconnected events. The housekeeper/custodian at the school is retiring and since everyone found out rather late, a hasty retirement party is being put together at the last minute. Amidst the frenzied activity of preparations, an inspector is wandering here and there to check out accusations of sexual harassment against the assistant director. The protagonists are hard-put to pull off a successful party, and they resolve the accusations before the school comes apart at the seams. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi