Zelimir Zilnik is one of the most prominent figures of the famous Yugoslav Black Wave. He always did things his way and didn’t back down to political pressure. Quite the contrary, Zilnik still fights for artistic freedom.
His work is recognized worldwide by film critics, festivals, and audiences. Before we address his movies, let’s start from his beginnings.
The Beginnings of Zelimir Zilnik
In order not to use a magnifying glass on each unnecessary detail, we’ll address the crucial aspects of his beginnings.
One of the key moments of Zilnik’s career was when he became an assistant in a film by Dušan Makavejev. Another is getting involved with the Neoplanta film production company. Initially, this company supported socio-political criticism in movies, resulting in a significant shift. It also made collaborations with the founding Black Wave filmmakers. Working with Zivojin Pavlovic was also a huge plus in gathering knowledge and experience.
This was only the start of Zilnik’s impressive film career. However, he ran into political problems pretty fast.
Political Problems of Zelimir Zilnik
His first full-length, Early Works, got him into serious trouble. It was a critique of the Yugoslav communist government and an allusion to Marx’s early writings. Even though Early Works was screened, it didn’t take long before Zilnik and the Avala Film production company were ordered to stop. Zilnik wouldn’t have been Zilnik if he had backed off, so he didn’t and was taken to court. However, he managed to defend the movie successfully.
Because of his famous Black Film and other subsequent films, he went into exile in West Germany for some time. He also wasn’t accepted there because he made movies that addressed sensitive societal themes. Since the Germans reacted negatively, Zilnik was forced to return to Yugoslavia.
His experience shows that censorship is everywhere, both in the East and the West.
Best Zelimir Zilnik Movies
Here are some of the most significant Zelimir Zilnik movies, for which he gained domestic and international critical acclaim:
- Early Works
- Marble Ass
- Black Film
- Different Generation
- Uprising in Jazak
- The Old School of Capitalism
- Brooklyn – Gusinje
- Pretty Women Walking Through the City
- Tito’s Second Time Among the Serbs
- The Way Steel Was Tempered
Even though different, each of these films has Zilnik’s authentic voice and style. If you haven’t seen any of his movies, I suggest you begin with Early Works!
Most Important Zelimir Zilnik Awards
Here’s a list of some of the most significant festivals where Zelimir Zilnik’s movies were nominated for or won awards.
- Berlin International Film Festival
- Moscow International Film Festival
- Trieste Film Festival
- Wiesbaden goEast
- ZagrebDox
- International Film Festival ASTERFEST
- Serbian Film Festival
Zilnik is also praised by the best film critics worldwide, and his films have had major retrospectives at prestigious film festivals and art centers.
Final Thoughts on Zelimir Zilnik and His Films
Zelimir Zilnik is a massive cinematic force that helped Balkan cinema become recognizable worldwide. Filmmakers like him are the ones who move the film industry forward and explore new worlds.
However, he still has political problems. Recently, Zilnik, Srdjan Dragojevic, and Goran Markovic were rejected from the state’s film fund. Not because their scripts were bad, but because they were labeled enemies of the government.
Nevertheless, Zilnik will undoubtedly keep fighting and making movies that break barriers!
framebyframecritic 
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