The Priest's Children
- Vinko Brešan is an experienced director and he certainly knows how to get the right tone for comedy, for which he is best known.
![The Priest's Children](imgCache/2013/07/17/1374026501367_0300x0183_0x0x0x0_1679285762710.jpg)
Croatian director Vinko Brešan returns to KVIFF's competition for the fourth time with his fifth feature, The Priest's Children [+see also:
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Young Father Fabijan (Krešimir Mikić, one of Croatia's most versatile actors, seen recently in Vegetarian Cannibal [+see also:
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Brešan is an experienced director and he certainly knows how to get the right tone for comedy, for which he is best known. The Priest's Children is based on a theatre play by Croatia's most prominent writer Mate Matišić, who frequently adapts his own plays for film, mostly with great success. Such is the case with this film as well, the narrative flows without much hitches and the dramaturgy is perfectly suited to the film medium.
The whole cast is precisely on the line between realism necessary to be convincing and comical approach without embarassing overacting. Mikić once again proves he is absolutely the top of the line of Croatian acting scene, and Butijer and Kuhn play their respective roles of a God-fearing man and war-crazed nationalist with gusto. Ana Maras and Goran Bogdan stand out among the supporting roles as one of the numerous newly married couples. The film also includes an effective guest star turn by Serbian star Lazar Ristovski, who also co-produced the film.
Brešan is practically the only constant hit-maker in Croatia, a territory infamous for the fact that the audiences are rarely interested in local product. Among the top five local blockbusters ever, three belong to Brešan, including The Priest's Children which sold almost 160,000 admissions. He is also one of the Karlovy Vary regulars, with the FIPRESCI prize for Will Not End Here (2008), Philip Morris Award for Witnesses (2003), and Best Director for Marshal Tito's Spirit (1999).
The Priest's Children is a co-production between Croatia's Interfilm and Serbia's Zillion Film. Wide handles the international rights.
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