RAZREDNI SOVRAŽNIK

Slovenia

Synopsis

Due to a huge difference in the way they perceive life, the relationship between students and their new German language teacher becomes critically tense.When one of the students commits suicide, her classmates accuse the teacher of being responsible for her death. The realisation that things are not so black and white comes too late.

Director's Statement

After the research for the film had been completed, I couldn't get anywhere for almost a year. The story seemed "too big" for a first film, with a huge number of complex characters, which is hard to control. I had to mature for it, but I lost my way in the process a few more times. As far as the story is concerned, I was not interested in the real reason for the girl's suicide. This event was the triggering moment that pulled the story forward. I was interested in the dynamics of the relationships between the schoolmates, the way they used a personal tragedy for their rebellion, and the ease with which they blamed a professor. I was fascinated by how the classroom as a group protagonist unites around a single idea, but when the system crumbles, they argue between themselves. That is a classic pattern of revolutions, which need a common enemy to bring the group together. At the moment when the enemy has been conquered and the goal is achieved, the group falls apart.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Rok Biček

Written by: Nejc Gazvoda, Rok Biček, Janez Lapajne

Produced by: Aiken Veronika Prosenc, Janez Lapajne

Cinematography: Fabio Stoll

Editing: Janez Lapajne, Rok Biček

Production Design: Danijel Modrej

Costume Design: Bistra Borak

Sound: Julij Zornik

Cast: Igor Samobor, Nataša Barbara Gracner, Tjaša Železnik, Maša Derganc, Robert Prebil, Voranc Boh, Jan Zupancic, Daša Cupevski, Doroteja Nadrah, Pia Korbar, Dan David Mrevlje Natlacen, Jan Vrhovnik, Kangjing Qiu, Estera Dvornik, Peter Teichmeister

Nominations and Awards

  • Feature Film Selection 2014