Murina
Croatia, Brazil, United States, Slovenia 2021
Directed by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, drama, 92 min, eng subtitles, 16+
Written by Frank Graziano, Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović
With Gracija Filipović, Danica Ćurčić, Leon Lučev, Cliff Curtis
Julija is a restless sixteen-year-old girl who lives on an idyllic Croatian island with her parents. Her domineering father Ante owns land that he is hoping to sell to Javier, his wealthy former employer whom he likes to call a family friend. As Javier´s visit approaches, Ante is under tremendous stress to finalise the preparations, which are to impress his guest. He barks orders at Julija, who becomes ever more annoyed, and her beautiful and endlessly patient mother. The visit, however, puts the characters under more tension, because the charming and worldly Javier appears to be everything Ante is not.
Impressively filmed and acted, Murina is a sensual story of teenage desire and anger, coming of age and quiet self-empowerment, with the backdrop of the blue ocean and sun-dappled shores setting the vivid picture of a troubled paradise.
The film premiered in the Quinzaine des réalisateurs sidebar of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival receiving the Caméra d’Or award for the Best First Film.