Film Review: Jagode u grlu (1985)

Plenty of popular, important or groundbreaking cultural achievements have been subjected to vicious deconstruction in past few decades. But there are very few occasions of such deconstruction being done by the author of said achievement. One such example is provided by Jagode u grlu (title that literally means “Strawberries in Throat”), 1985 Yugoslav drama written and directed by Srđan Karanović.

The film represent the sequel to what used to be Karanović’s magnum opus - 1976 miniseries Grlom u jagode. The series, which dealt with group of friends growing up in 1960s Belgrade by employing combination of humour, pop culture references, unusual stylistic choices and nostalgia, is one of the most beloved works of Yugoslav television and, from today’s perspective, it represents almost textbook example of the phenomenon that would later be known as “Yugonostalgia”. Jagode u grlu represents its antithesis – a film that audience after its premiere utterly disliked and many fans of the original series would prefer never to be made.

The series was narrated by its protagonist, Branislav “Bane Bumbar” Živković (played by Branko Cvejić) and he repeats the same task in brief recap at the beginning of the film. What follows is the plot set in present (mid 1980s) Yugoslavia, in a time when middle-aged Bane has achieved the aims of his youth – an apartment, a car, a wife Biljka (played by Dobrila Stojnić) and two children. However, things aren’t going that well for Yugoslavia, stuck with economic woes, nor for Bane, whose marriage is falling apart. At least of his friends have fared better, like Miki Rubiroza (played by Predrag “Miki” Manojlović), who had long ago emigrated to the West and now briefly returns to Belgrade as wealthy businessman. Chance encounter at airport make Bane and Miki set up impromptu reunion of his old friends that also involves Uške (played by Aleksandar Berček), Boca (played by Bogdan Diklić), Bane’s former girlfriend Goca (played by Gordana Marić) and Bane’s brother-in-law Tale (played by Josif Tatić). They gather on the restaurant river barge and the evening, which begins with nostalgic reminiscences becomes increasingly bitter as friends begin to complain about their present day woes and, fuelled by alcohol, begin to reveal old secrets and deeply suppressed grudges they had towards each other, resulting in violence.

Jagode u grlu is very dark film that tries to be the complete opposite of the series. What used to be a comedy, full of youthful exuberance, cheerful optimism and nostalgic depiction of post-WW2 boom is now turned into serious and almost tragic drama about decaying present and even darker future. The film’s semi-apocalyptic finale, during which the barge ends up floating the river, gained even more symbolic meaning only few years later when Yugoslavia fell apart when its republics and ethnic groups, just like the characters in the film, forsake their false “brotherhood” for the sake of long-suppressed grievances with violent results. Karanović’s script even hints at the very beginning of that process. When Miki and Bane meet, they kiss three times at the cheek, which is what Bane explains, became a custom in Belgrade in 1980s. The custom is ancient Serbian tradition based on Orthodox Christianity, which in the years since Tito’s death became resurrected as the form of subtle but very telling expression of reaffirming Serb and rebirth of Serb nationalism, a force that would trigger chain reaction resulting in violent collapse of multi-ethnic federation.

While extremely dark and leaving audience with depressive conclusion that entire lives were built on illusion, Jagode u grlu is technically well-made film. Karanović, who enjoyed reputation of one of Serbia’s greatest film makers, directs film very well and he is helped by very good cast, many of its members enthusiastically using opportunity to play new variation of iconic roles. The script is, however, very messy and disorganised, with the Bane’s night restaurant being constantly interrupted with visits to his increasingly dysfunctional family. Some characters appear to be added strictly to provide younger generation of Serbian actors something to do – like future heartthrob Žarko Laušević in the role of driver and Gala Videnović as high school student serves as Uške’s version of midlife crisis. What ultimately kills any chance of Jagode u grlu becoming more than historical curiosity is use of Orkestar Lepog Jovice, Gypsy music band that provides its own covers of many 1950s and 1960s pop hits in a manner that sound interesting at start only to become annoying as the film goes on, only adding to the general unpleasantness. Not even extremely short running time of barely 82 minutes is going to help much, so Jagode u grlu should be recommended only to viewers who require more extreme ways to cure themselves of unhealthy nostalgia.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

_

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Unstoppable Domains: https://unstoppabledomains.com/?ref=3fc23fc42c1b417
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax y
Bitcoin Lightning HIVE donations: https://v4v.app/v1/lnurlp/qrcode/drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7

Posted using CineTV