Klopka

Serbia, Germany, Hungary

Synopsis

Post-Milosevic Belgrade, capital of a nation struggling to find its soul, of a country whose turbulent recent past has left many in a moral and existential desert. This is the home of Mladen, his wife Marija and their son Nemanja. When Nemanja develops a serious heart condition, the doctors urge an operation abroad. But where to obtain the 26,000 euros? Just when the boy's parents give up hope of raising the money, a man contacts Mladen and offers to pay the whole amount. But there is one thing Mladen must do: kill the man's business rival, The proposal repulses Mladen, but as his son's condition suddenly deteriorates, he begins to seriously consider the offer. If he accepts, he saves his boy's life but loses his soul; If he refuses, he will grieve as a righteous man until the end of his life. The trap is set ...

Director's Statement

THE TRAP is a film about an ordinary man, who is forced to choose between life and death of his own
child.
It is a story about the moral dilemma of the protagonist – whether to save the life of his son by
accepting to become a killer. It is a story about a man who is trying to exchange death for life, to
change his misfortune for someone else’s. It is about the event that should bring the salvation to his
family, and suffering to another family. It is about the freedom of choice, which actually doesn’t exist...
THE TRAP is a ‘personal story’ kind of film. In a way, it is a contemporary Balkan version of “Crime
and Punishment”. It is about the crime that saved the life of protagonist’s child, and punishment that
comes from within.
THE TRAP is a psychological drama with thriller elements - realistic, hard and raw film. Film of long
silences, emptiness and hollowness, reflecting the loneliness and helplessness of the protagonist.
Film with a lot of close-ups, with use of telephoto lenses, rich sound texture in which music is
becoming almost a part of atmosphere and sounds; camera movements through which we are coming
into protagonists face, his inner world which is becoming unbearable like a nightmare.
THE TRAP is a film about an ordinary man becoming a killer. About a man who thought he will never
be able to kill. About the crash of all moral values in which he believed. About the protagonist who has
in front of him two solutions – both leading to pain, guilt and misfortune. About a man in moral and
existential trap.
THE TRAP is a film about post-Milosevic’s Serbia, in which there is no more war, but there is moral
and existential desert, about Serbia in transition, in which human life still doesn’t worth a lot, about
normal life which still seems unreachable.

Director's Biography

Srdan Golubovic was born in 1972 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

During his studies at the University of Drama he directed several short features ( THREESOME ) that received several international and domestic awards and the HERTZ MINUTE episode for the omnibus film THE PACKAGE that became a cult movie for the young generation.

He established the production company Baš Celik with a team of young film artists, producing video clips for the most famous local music groups and singers, as well as acclaimed commercials and marketing campaigns.

He shot his first feature film ABSOLUTE HUNDRED in the executive production of Baš Celik in 2001, with which he participated in the main programs at over 30 international film festivals including San Sebastian, Toronto, Thessaloniki, Cottbus, Rotterdam, Pusan, Paris, Palm Springs, Trieste and San Jose.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Srdan Golubovic

Written by: Melina Pota Koljevic, Srdjan Koljevic

Cinematography: Aleksandar Ilić

Cast: Nebojša Glogovac (Mladen), Natasa Ninkovic (Marija), Anica Dobra (Jelena), Miki Manojlovic (Kosta Antic)

Nominations and Awards

  • Feature Film Selection 2007