Miki Manojlovic Movies

An unpredictable black comedy with an epic scope, Emir Kusturica's highly acclaimed Underground takes a look at the modern history of Yugoslavia through the often absurd misadventures of two friends over several decades. The film begins in Belgrade in 1941, establishing the friendship between the gregarious Blacky and the more intellectual Marko during a drunken, late-night musical procession that establishes the riotous tone to follow. Fellow members of the Communist Party, the friends also share an involvement in shady business activities and an attraction for a beautiful actress. Soon, the chaos of World War II forces them to take refuge in an underground shelter with a variety of other townspeople. Years pass and the war ends, but Marko and the actress trick the others into believing that the war is still going on. Kusturica turns this inherently absurd premise into a vibrant portrait of the contradictory, foolish nature of war. Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, the film received great acclaim on the festival circuit but had a hard time securing a release in the United States. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

This French film chronicles the amazing-but-true story of Lisa Alling who in 1928 successfully walked from New York City to Siberia via the Bering Straight by following telegraph poles. It was shot entirely in the Ukraine. Lisa, a chambermaid, has had enough of American life and wants go home to Siberia. Because she had no money, she decided it was better to walk than stay in the U.S. any longer. An opportunist, she takes whatever food, warmth and even romance that is offered along the way. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Goran Markovic's semi-autobiographical Tito and Me is the story of a 10-year-old named Zoran (Dimitrie Vojnov), who is growing up in Belgrade in 1954. Zoran is obsessed with Yugoslavia's dictatorial leader, "Comrade Tito," and over the course of the film, the young boy learns that worshipping idols is a naive, foolhardy practice. Tito and Me is the last film to be made in Yugoslavia before the country was torn apart by a civil war in the early '90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Without undue melodrama or moral judgment, this evocative French drama paints a painfully realistic portrait of a woman who inexorably destroys her life with her constant fixation on her own needs. She is Camille Valmont, a woman whose lust for fame eclipses every other aspect of her life. By the time she succeeds, she has lost her good husband and two young children. The courts grant her visitation rights with the children every other weekend. Even then, she is so consumed by her career that she rarely avails herself of the rights. Then her career begins to go into a slump. Camille becomes so desperate for money that she must take any job available to get by. One day she gets a short stint working as a Rotary Club hostess in Vichy. Unfortunately, it is on a visitation weekend. To do both, she takes the children with her, something the courts have forbidden her to do. Just before she is to go on stage, her ex-husband calls to tell her that he is coming for the children. She panics, steals a rental car and takes off with the children, neither of whom care much for her, in a desperate, if misguided bid to get closer to them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This is an amusing and enjoyable romantic comedy buoyed by witty dialogue. Drago (Miki Manojlovic) has just been released from prison; he tried to hold up a village bank with a toy gun, so he's not exactly a hardened criminal. He crashes in the apartment of Zdenka (Mira Furlan), a shy but friendly factory worker with a boring boyfriend. When Drago goes off in pursuit of Nina (Dubravka Ostojic), the woman he loves, he discovers she has a flourishing art gallery and a rich, married lover. How can he compete with that? Meanwhile, Zdenka slowly develops an affection for Drago though he does not notice her, creating a complex triangle. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

The Yugoslavian When Father Was Away on Business (Otac na Sluzbenoh Putu) takes place in the early 1950s. The title is a euphemism: because of the strained relationship between Yugoslavia and the USSR, various private citizens have disappeared in the middle of the night, accompanied by the police. One such "vanishing" individual is Miki Manojlovic, the father of 6-year old Moreno D'E Bartolli, from whose viewpoint this story is told When Manojlovic, an employee in the labor ministry is whisked away to prison, his family reacts with pride, assuring one and all that he is "away on business" because of his fervent political beliefs. The sad truth: Manojlovic has ended up behind bars because of his sexual peccadilloes. The film details the tribulations of a fatherless family struggling to cope with the financial deprivations of Communism. Director Emir Kusturica won the Cannes Film Festival Golden Palm award for his work on When Father Was Away on Business. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Miki Rudinsky (Miki Manojlovic) is a disk jockey for a small provincial radio station who would like to move up the ladder to bigger and better positions. With that thought in mind, he organizes a gala event for the town sponsored by the local plum-processing factory. Unbeknownst to Miki, a big shot from Belgrade drops into town to help the factory get a major celebration underway - bringing VIPs and television coverage to the event. Sure enough, Miki's musical session and the factory's celebration get scheduled for the same day, causing Miki to resort to whatever means possible to get an audience. As one result of his underhanded efforts, he loses his job at the radio station. But life must go on, and he is willing to fight to the bitter end, no matter what. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide