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Zvonimir Jurić’s latest feature presents a restrained examination of familial dynamics centered on an island property dispute. The narrative begins with a lighthearted moment as grandchildren introduce their grandfather to modern smartphone technology, quickly transitioning into a game featuring cultural references spanning from Yugoslav-era musicians to contemporary pop icons. This juxtaposition sets the stage for exploring how contemporary forces intersect with traditional family structures and expectations.
Two sisters return to their childhood home on the Croatian coast to negotiate the sale of their father’s orchard and settle inheritance matters. Their visit reveals layers of personal struggle: one sister grieves a recently deceased partner, while the other, pregnant and facing marital difficulties, hopes motherhood might salvage her relationship. Their brother, withdrawn and reclusive, largely isolates himself in the family home’s lower level, emerging only for fishing expeditions and minimal meals. The film employs deliberate sound design and natural lighting to establish an atmosphere of quiet tension rather than overt conflict.
The central character Anica attempts to hold the fractured family together, her stability contrasting sharply with her siblings’ vulnerabilities. However, her resolve wavers when financial pressures push her sister to claim Ivan’s inheritance share. Jurić and co-writer Jurica Pavičić craft dramatic moments through subtle expressions and meaningful glances rather than confrontational dialogue. The cinematography emphasizes stillness and shadow, particularly in Ivan’s dimly lit quarters, while Anica’s presence brings illumination to scenes she inhabits, reinforcing her role as emotional anchor.
This contemplative drama rewards patient viewers with carefully composed imagery and nuanced performances, culminating in a poignant final moment that captures the tension between necessary change and nostalgic permanence.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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