My Take:
This film is no lighthearted romance—it’s a social thriller that begins as a dream of freedom and ends as a total nightmare. We follow Iva and Marija, who rent an apartment in Zagreb just wanting to be together. However, the building they move into becomes a metaphor for a society filled with hate, secrets, and violence. It’s painful cinema, but incredibly vital.
What's Captivating: Bravery. Director Dalibor Matanić is unafraid to show the brutal truth of prejudice. The film brilliantly builds an atmosphere of growing entrapment—you can feel the noose tightening around the protagonists every day. It’s a powerful voice against intolerance that remains strikingly relevant years later.
A Word of Caution: The film’s finale is devastating and very violent. This is a production for those with high emotional resilience. The early 2000s aesthetic might feel a bit raw, but it only enhances the realism of the tragedy.
Verdict: 8.5/10 🏳️🌈
Shocking, brave, and uncompromising. A film that stays with you and forces reflection on the cost of being oneself.
🔍 Did you know...?
The film caused a massive scandal in Croatia and was widely boycotted by conservative groups and the Church, primarily due to a poster featuring two kissing statues of the Virgin Mary. Despite the controversy, the production was a huge artistic success, winning seven awards at the Pula Film Festival and becoming Croatia’s official entry for the Academy Awards.
