To watch Goran Paskaljević movies is to experience something unique. No matter if you like his movies or not, one thing is for sure: you will feel something different. If there is one word to describe his work, it would be authentic.
Goran Paskaljevic remains one of the greatest filmmakers ever, and rightfully so. He is one of the five Prague Film School movement directors, along with Rajko Grlic, Goran Markovic, Srdjan Karanovic, and Lordan Zafranovic.
Therefore, let’s list the best Goran Paskaljević movies, according to my taste. Also, there shouldn’t be any spoilers, but if you want to be highly cautious, don’t read the summaries.
Let’s begin.
Special Treatment
Original title: Poseban tretman
Year: 1980
Major nominations: Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globes, Pula Film Festival
Genres: Satire, Drama, Psychological Drama, Comedy
Leading cast: Ljuba Tadic, Bata Stojkovic, Dusica Zegarac, Milena Dravic, etc.
Summary: A story about a doctor who treats alcoholics with his own ‘special treatment.’ He uses apple eating, exercises, psychodrama, and listening to Wagner. Six of his patients are taken to the brewery where there’s an alcoholism issue. What follows reveals that the doctor uses his treatment to showcase his own hypocritical and despotic personality.
The Elusive Summer of ’68
Original title: Varljivo leto ’68
Year: 1984
Major nominations: Bastia Italian Film Festival, selected as cultural heritage of great importance by the Yugoslav Film Archive, Filmski Susreti, Film Screenplay Festival, New Orleans Film Festival
Genres: Drama, Satire, Period Drama, Comedy, Romance
Leading cast: Bata Stojkovic, Slavko Stimac, Mira Banjac
Summary: The maturing of a young man who lives in a provincial town clashes with the stormy political events in 1968.
Time of Miracles
Original title: Vreme čuda
Year: 1989
Major nominations: Cannes Film Festival, San Sebastián International Film Festival, Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival, etc.
Genres: Mystery, Drama
Leading cast: Miki Manojlovic, Dragam Maksimovic, Mirjana Karanovic, Svetozar Cvetkovic, etc.
Summary: A fire burns down a school in 1945. The new Communist leaders hang a Communist Party flag in a church and paint over the church’s frescoes. However, the frescoes miraculously restore themselves.
Someone Else’s America
Original title: Tuđa Amerika
Year: 1995
Major nominations: Cannes Film Festival, Valladolid International Film Festival
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Leading cast: Tom Conti, Maria Casares, Miki Manojlovic, Zorka Manojlovic, Sergej Trifunovic
Summary: This film is a tale about a Serb, Bajo, and a Spaniard, Alonso, who, after migrating to New York, try to merge into the new world. The film takes place in Alonso’s bar, which he runs with his blind mother. It tells a lot about the ‘American Dream’.
Cabaret Balkan
Original title: Bure baruta
Year: 1998
Major nominations: European Film Awards, Venice Film Festival, Manaki Film Festival, National Board of Review, USA, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, etc.
Genres: Drama, Comedy
Leading cast: This one has an all-star cast, which deserves to be mentioned:
- Sergej Trifunovic
- Nebojsa Glogovac
- Milena Dravic
- Aleksandar Bercek
- Mira Banjac
- Ivan Bekjarev
- Voja Brajovic
- Bogdan Diklic
- Mirjana Jokovic
- Dragan Jovanovic
- Azra Cengic
- Mirjana Karanovic
- Nebojsa Milovanovic
- Nikola Ristanovski
- Dragan Nikolic
- Ana Sofrenovic
- Lazar Ristovski
- Toni Mihajlovski
- Miki Manojlovic
Summary: An interconnected story via random Belgrade citizens who interact with each other during one night that’s filled with anger, jealousy, crime, betrayal, revenge, and frustration.
Beach Guard in Winter
Original title: Cuvar plaze u zimskom periodu
Year: 1976
Major nominations: Berlin International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Pula Film Festival
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Leading cast: Irfan Mensur, Gordana Kosanovic, Bata Stojkovic, Mira Banjac, etc.
Summary: This movie perfectly blends comedy and drama through a young man who wants to get married to a girl he loves. However, he can’t get a home of his own or a nice job. On top of it all, neither his nor her parents are really helping.
How Harry Became a Tree
Original title: How Harry Became a Tree
Year: 2001
Major nominations: Venice Film Festival, Munich Film Festival, IFTA, Ghent International Film Festival, etc.
Genres: Dark Comedy, Drama
Leading cast: Colm Meany, Adrian Dunbar, Cillian Murphy, Kerry Condon
Summary: This one is a dark, philosophical drama about the destructive nature of hatred and the human need to have an enemy. Set in rural Ireland, the film follows Harry Maloney, a man who believes that his worth is measured by the strength of those who oppose him. His obsession with revenge gradually becomes a way of life, shaping his relationships and distorting his understanding of justice, dignity, and masculinity.
The Servant
Original title: Sluga
Year: 1973
Major nominations: This is a 42-minute TV movie, so it couldn’t be sent to any festivals.
Genres: Drama
Leading cast: Bata Zivojinovic, Pavle Vuisic, Liljana Gazdic, Ciga Jerinic
Summary: A TV movie that’s based on a folk tale. It tells the story of how one can’t get away from one’s own destiny. The plot happens centuries ago in an unknown place.
The Dog Who Loved Trains
Original title: Pas koji je voleo vozove
Year: 1977
Major nominations: Berlin International Film Festival, Pula Film Festival
Genres: Satire, Comedy, Drama
Leading cast: Ceca Bojkovic, Bata Zivojinovic, Irfan Mensur
Summary: A young guy who lost his dog, a fugitive girl, and a stuntman are joined in their journey to their destinations. The young man starts to feel a connection to the girl and tries to help her leave the stuntman and escape.
The Days on Earth Are Flowing
Original title: Zemaljski dani teku
Year: 1979
Major nominations: Pula Film Festival
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Leading cast: Dimitrije Vujovic, Obren Helcer, Mila Keca
Summary: An interesting story about an old sea captain who has lived on his own, but the time finally comes for him to enter a home for old people. However, his enthusiasm isn’t destroyed; quite the contrary, it motivates the entire home as a New Year’s Eve party is about to happen.
Guardian Angel
Original title: Andjeo cuvar
Year: 1987
Major nominations: Montenegro Film Festival, Pula Film Festival
Genres: Drama, Crime
Leading cast: Jakup Amzic, Ljubisa Samardzic, Neda Arneric, Saban Bajramovic
Summary: A true portrait of modern European human trafficking. A journalist searches for a boy, but discovers the lives of Yugoslav Roma people. His search takes him to Italy, where he discovers the main organizers of child trafficking. The film also addresses the challenge of one man facing organized crime alone.
Tango Argentino
Original title: Tango argentino
Year: 1992
Major nominations: Venice Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival
Genres: Drama, Music
Leading cast: Mija Aleksic, Nikola Zarkovic, Miki Manojlovic
Summary: A boy whose parents have denied him the need for love and understanding finds the same by helping lonely old people.
Honeymoons
Original title: Honey Moons
Year: 2009
Major nominations: Venice Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Les Arcs European Film Festival, etc.
Genres: Drama
Leading cast: Nebojsa Milovanovic, Jelena Trkulja, Jozef Shiroka, Mirela Naska
Summary: The distance between Western and Eastern Europe is much more than just kilometers. The story follows two couples in Serbia and Albania who decide to leave their countries while their wedding is happening.
Goran Paskaljević Movies: Final Words
Unfortunately, Goran Paskaljevic is no longer with us. However, his art remains forever among us to enjoy it, again and again. He is one of the rare filmmakers who has been able to create several masterpieces in worldwide cinema.
No matter which of these Goran Paskaljević movies you watch first, you won’t make a mistake. Still, I would recommend Cabaret Balkan as your first choice.
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