Šavovi

Stitches
When seamstress Ana places a cake on the kitchen table, her adolescent daughter Ivana just shakes her head and turns away. Her husband Jovan also wants her to drop the subject. With this gesture, Ana celebrates the birthday of her son who, according to the hospital, died immediately after he was born. He would be 20 years old now. Ana shares the fate with many other Serbian women and believes she had her newborn child stolen from her so the infant could be given up for illegal adoption for money. A new clue gives Ana reason to hope again.
A few years ago, an outrageous scandal came to light in Serbia; a scandal whose resolution is still ongoing because the authorities continue to stonewall the investigation. In thousands of cases of systematic child theft over several decades, hospitals are said to have sold newborn babies with the help of a clandestine network of doctors, undertakers and government employees, and informed the parents that their child had died. Featuring an expressive performance from the female lead and a moving screenplay, Miroslav Terzić’s film carefully unfolds a story of loss and hope.
by Miroslav Terzić
with Snezana Bogdanovic, Marko Bacovic, Jovana Stojiljkovic, Vesna Trivalic, Dragana Varagic, Pavle Cemerikic
Serbia / Slovenia / Croatia / Bosnia and Herzegovina 2019 Serbian 97’ Colour World premiere

With

  • Snezana Bogdanovic (Ana)
  • Marko Bacovic (Jovan)
  • Jovana Stojiljkovic (Ivana)
  • Vesna Trivalic (Marija)
  • Dragana Varagic (Doctor)
  • Pavle Cemerikic (Marko)

Crew

Director Miroslav Terzić
Screenplay Elma Tataragic
Cinematography Damjan Radovanovic
Editing Milena Petrovic
Music Aleksandra Kovac
Sound Design Julij Zornik
Sound Srdjan Bajski
Production Design Ana Buljan
Costumes Zora Mojsilovic
Make-Up Dusica Vuksanovic
Assistant Director Srdjan Spasic
Production Manager Uros Lazic
Producers Uliks Fehmiu, Milena Trobozic Garfield
Executive Producer Ljiljana Djuricko
Co-Producers Darko Vinkl, Alan Vitezic, Zdenka Gold, Amra Baksic Camo, Adis Djapo
Co-Production Nora Production Group Ljubljana
Spiritus Movens Zagreb
SCCA/PRO.BA Sarajevo

Produced by

West End Productions

Miroslav Terzić

Born in Belgrade in former Yugoslavia in 1969, he studied international law at the city’s university before taking a postgraduate degree in its Faculty of Dramatic Arts. His debut feature film, Redemption Street, premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival and went on to screen at the São Paulo International Film Festival. He also works as a director for major marketing agencies.

Filmography

2012 Redemption Street

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019