Murina (2021) User Reviews

Not bad at all for a debut

[urema-1 · 7/10 · 13 April 2022]

This film is Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's feature film debut.

We follow Julija (Gracija Filipovic) and her family, who live on a relatively secluded island in the Adriatic Sea.

Julija is a beautiful girl, with a burgeoning intellect, imagination and expectation of life. She wants more than what this isolated life can give her. She sits in wonder at the young tourists who frequent their bay. She has lots of skills with swimming and diving.

She dives with her father Ante (Leon Lucev) to catch fresh seafood every day. She doesn't like it, but has no other choice but to partake. To her father and the outside world she is happy, as she is timid and doesn't complain to much. But her eyes speak volumes of her lack of satisfaction in life. Her mother, Nela (Danica Curcic), has a similar fire, that has been quelled over the years. Age, lack of taking opportunities, motherhood etc., have grounded her and made her settle with Ante. She is unsatisfied, but there's nothing in her life that causes her discomfort or pain - mostly embarrassment and inward shame.

Ante is a strict man who seemingly has everything in life. However, he suffers from wanting to control everything, and takes what he has for granted. To him the things he has are only tangibly his - he feels he has only a fragile grasp over them. His wife only likes him because she can't follow through on her lusts or dreams. His daughter only likes and helps him because she is isolated from other opportunities. The land he has is not affording him any profit or reputation. He was, and has been let down by many developers with his idea to turn his land into a tourist hotspot. Things are not as he wants, and because he wants to control everything, these things eat at him.

Ante associates being physically near his family - even though distant and not understanding either his wife or daughter - is what love it.

A friend of his, Javier (Cliff Curtis), arrives to his home. They have a long past together - not the closest of friends, but they have shared many close interactions. Javier is successful and rich. Ante invites him in the hope that Javier can pull strings to get developers out to buy Antes land. Nela has a history with Javier - they used to date, and Javier actually asked her to marry him. Something Ante is acutely aware of, and holds a pocket of jealousy over.

Julija sees all of this, and wonders what and how her mother would have ever been with Ante. All the questions and personal frustrations within Julija begin to rise to the surface. She is attracted to Javier both physically and to his lifestyle. She finds the confidence to push back at her father in his presence, and to show her lack of satisfaction and distaste of her father. Julija has thoughts of running away, and also the desire to see her father dead.

They dive for murina - a species of eel - which lives in forgotten cracks in rocks, hiding away from all other animals. The eels being a metaphor for Julijas life. She is stuck in this area and forced to hide away from the outside world in order to survive.

We toss and turn from one feeling to another throughout the film, and it has some tough scenes in it. There is jealousy, lack of understanding, and a glimpse into the routine of being on an isolated coastal land.

Some of the scenes suffer from a reliance on natural light, which renders some shots quite dark, and impedes the directors fascination with the female form - lighting would help emphasise angles and contours better. Good acting all around, very realistic performances. There is a strange "obsession" the director has for having Julija in revealing bikinis and swimsuits throughout - however their lifestyle is on the water, so it would be normal to adorn these frequently. The film is very slowly paced, and has an open ending but fiery ending.

Dreams die in paradise

[Ladiloque · 7/10 · 8 April 2022]

Outstanding and well directed story which unfortunately didn't totally convince me due to some setting/plot and acting weakness. I won't spoil the storyline/script problems I found (I assume the english subbing was faithful): they are not really important but prevented me to fully enjoy the film.

G. Filipovic, the absolute protagonist - though a talented mediterranean beauty and a pleasure to watch (the writer/director agrees and indulges in a lot of revealing swimsuit shots) - doesn't always show a proper range. In some instances either fails to convince (not conveying the dramatic tension required in some scenes) or gets out of character (turning from silly girl to wise housewife to plotting homewrecker and back with too much ease) - proving that eyes actually lie.

Overall though, a very good drama about a family living in a secluded villa on the croatian coastline, and inexorably disintegrating when an affluent friend considers investing in the land.

As an insignificant side note: I'd have likely never watched this movie if it hadn't won the Cannes' "camera d'or" prize over "Rien a foutre" which recently made a great impression on me. Another drama about a young woman. Another film that deserves to be watched - though IMO not in the same category.

excellent underwater shoots...

[ops-52535 · 7/10 · 9 August 2022]

That will remind you that the hvratskanian archipelagos is one of the most prescious and beautiful places on earth, warm water clear seas, and finally a film with an actor that really knows how to swim (im a swimfan you know), good looking she is too to say the least, a film about a small family that is on the brink of devastation, a dominant and commanding kinda psychopath, seaworthy but landfast captain of the sea, a fragile daughter whos adolescence and urge to break free is imminent, and where the mother stands helpless inbetween them both. When a long lost friend visits everything turns cataclysmic..-.

Its an european art movie that will be praised by most critics, even by the grumpy old man, who dove a lot in this area when a young boy, still feeling the itching spikes of the black sea urchins of paradise. A film to watch for natural beauty, both human and scenic, great filmography and a sore and at times agonizing and asphyxiating on the issues of family relations.

Lacks chatacter development

[confidencegame · 6/10 · 13 September 2021]

I enjoyed this film. The picture and scenery looked stunning. The acting was pretty good overall.

But at the same time, I felt this film lacked proper character development, given its subject. The story is about a controlling father and his relationship with his daughter and our main hero Julija. But here is the thing - Julija is shown as very much her own person right from the start. She has a no-nonsense attitude and is happy to tell-off anyone (including her father) whenever she feels like it. If anything, at times it felt like her mother was actually the controlling parent with her constant remarks ("please wear this dress", "please don't speak" and so on).

Since Julija was in command from the start, the whole climax of the film felt rather pointless, or at least disengaging. We already knew she was independent.

The Devil & the Beautiful Blue Sea...

[Xstal · 7/10 · 15 May 2022]

Julija loves the sea and to foray, but is she the metaphorical moray, trapped in a creel, caught on a reel, with a father that treats her as quarry.

Beautiful film, top drawer performances, growing up can be tough!

Making a Need Known

[brentsbulletinboard · 7/10 · 8 September 2022]

Adolescence is a time for finding oneself, especially when it comes to our sense of personal power. That's rarely easy, but it can be especially difficult for a teenage girl trapped in a household with a chauvinistic father, a condition not uncommon in many traditional Eastern European households. Such is the fate of a quiet but independently minded Croatian adolescent who longs for freedom from under the thumb of her domineering dad and capitulating mother. But the potential for profound change arises when a wealthy old friend of her father pays a visit to their coastal fishing village, one that could transform her life and that of her mother, provided they have the courage to act on it. Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's debut feature from Executive Producer Martin Scorsese presents an intense, intimate character study of an individual's search for empowerment in the face of oppressing odds and confusing circumstances that, like the clandestine behavior of the moray eels she and her father routinely hunt, deceptively conceal much of what's actually going on. This winner of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival Golden Camera Award for best first feature simmers slowly but builds tension well, engaging viewers handily, despite some repetitive narrative elements and occasional "atmospheric" camera work whose deliberate murkiness goes a little overboard in metaphorically depicting the intended character of the story. A number of films with themes similar to those explored here have emerged from this region in recent years, such as "Hive" (2021) and "God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya" (2019). That's an indication that there's a need for the expression of these notions, and, thankfully, filmmakers have successfully risen to the occasion, making the world more aware about conditions for women desperately in need of reform.

love the ending

[chrislawuk · 8/10 · 9 April 2022]

I found the father figure infuriating, but it provoked such a strong reaction. Its a movie about family strife, and it does that very well. Also, the will to overcome adversity in adolescence. Settings beautiful and acting was impressive.

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's Camera d'or winning feature debut recharges the coming-of-age story with multi-generational sexual heat and a constant threat of danger in a sun-

[immohammadsrm · 7/10 · 12 September 2022]

Cowriter (with Frank Graziano)/director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's Camera d'or winning feature debut recharges the coming-of-age story with multi-generational sexual heat and a constant threat of danger in a sun-splashed, Adriatic setting. Before the man Ante describes as 'god on earth' arrives, Julija dutifully accompanies her father to spearfish for the titular eels before returning to her room where she watches vacationing teenagers flirt on a yacht below her window.

When she's not capturing the sparkling sea and dramatic underwater scenes, cinematographer Hélène Louvart ("The Lost Daughter") uses angles like these to add weight to the viewer's point of view - Murina will look down again from a height at a very different type of flirting (and we will gaze up at her, a statuesque sea nymph in an aqua one piece). There will also be tight spaces promising danger, like the rocks Ante recklessly pilots a boat through or the underwater crevice Julija risks for an escape.

Then Javier arrives and he appears to be everything Ante is not, appreciative of the women's beauty, encouraging Julija to expand her dreams and think of going to Harvard. Javier's attentions make Julija bolder and Ante angrier. Julija tells Nela that Javier is obviously in love with her and that they should leave with him, but the older beauty knows better. Afraid that his daughter's rebellious behavior will sink his business deal, Ante does what she's been accusing him of wanting to do, literally locking her up in a boathouse. The man needs to watch his back.

Kusijanovic counters sensuality with tension throughout, accentuated by the tautly vibrating violins of "Loveless" composers Evgueni and Sasha Galperine. The overlapping interplay of two sets of three, the dysfunctional family and the flirtatious love triangle, is beautifully acted, Filipovic wordlessly displaying mercurial emotions between the extremes of Lucev and Curtis. "Murina" is a bold and beautiful expression of one young woman's bolt for freedom.

Award-Winning Amazing Debut

[christian94 · 9/10 · 22 July 2022]

Writer/Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic's debut feature is all it could be from a director who also used to dive in the film's idyllic Croatian coast setting.

This films builds on the director's underwater camera work in her enjoyable short Into the Blue (2017), and in acting and screen presence of actress Gracija Filipovic. This feature was in fact written with this teenage actor/non-actor in mind after the short. Gracia was 12 yr old then and showed promise and shines 4 years later in this character study.

The story has strong writing as it tackles teenage rebellion, family and relationship dynamics with evolving dreams of love, sexuality, freedom and purpose.

The father, mother and daughter relationships are complicated in this small village and when a wealthy, well-travelled long-time friend comes to spend some time with the family, much is revealed of the desires and dissatisfactions of all three family members.

The directing, cinematography and editing of this evolving drama are so strong that every shot of the 96 min movie is a pleasure. The acting is nuanced and elevated from the four leads. The underwater shots are beautiful and tell the story with images, sounds and occasional music. The first and final long shots of the movie tell a tight story visually that induce emotions viscerally and intellectually.

It is no surprise that the film won Camera d'Or at Cannes and over 20 other awards in 65 film festival worldwide.

Looking forward to Antoneta's next film which centers on a mother and daughter relationship and perhaps also catching some of her previous shorts, including If We Must Die (2016).

In short, this is a melancholic, beautiful drama with stunning cinematography and deft directing. A simple story with substance. Highly recommended.

A dramatic slice of sunshine

[brockfal · 8/10 · 26 September 2022]

A lovely film that transports you back to summer , , also a well performed and excellently written and directed film.

Essentially, it tells the story of a young woman and her domineering father on vacation in Croatia, swimming, snorkelling and seemingly following his expectations for her future, that is until a an old friend of the family comes along and sees how she is being stifled by her own father, so tries to help her break out and find her own potential. The results are tense and dramatically powerful but ring true as an honest coming of age tale. It's all wonderfully done and with a real sense of location, summer, youth and beauty. Well worth a watch.

Another one...

[tomislavjuric-96482 · 4/10 · 21 September 2021]

Is there any Croatian director who will make a film (for a change) that doesn't present Croatians as miserable, tormented, depressed and sad people?

This is another film with dominate and primitive male muscling his frustrations over poor and afflicted women.

Croatia is a beautiful country, all in all Croats have better living conditions and lives than majority countries in the world, yet suffering and depression is forced in every single film and why is that will never be clear to me.

In addition, the film is difficult to watch at times due to poor lighting.

On positive side- emotions are quite well portrayed. All actors did a pretty good job.

All in all this movie reminded me why I dislike Croatian films- more or less they are all the same.

A superbly crafted, tense drama that puts the setting at the forefront

[val-kalinic · 10/10 · 1 October 2021]

Finally went to see Murina and I can say the festival hype is not an overreaction. A superbly crafted film indeed - certainly one of the best contemporary entries from Croatia. From the very beginning, the maritime setting is developed as one of the main characters (not unlike the titular fish later on) and such choices are all justified by how consistently they're built on throughout the runtime.

Julija is both well-written and acted completely believably as a strong girl in her late teens (in itself a rare feat today), whose lifelong mistreatment has finally reached a breaking point - at a time when the secluded family is joined by a rare visitor. The hopes she lays in him are ultimately let down, but by that point we've already seen her start the hard journey to freedom fully on her own.

The ending that follows doesn't disappoint either. As Javier's departure makes it clear both to our heroine and us viewers that any fantasies of a simple escape won't materialize, she must face the central conflict head-on and by herself. We all know what she must do... but what ultimately happens instead is just as effective at finally setting her free, while also letting her keep a clear conscience.

Strongly recommended.

You should see this film for yourself!

[claudiusdominique · 9/10 · 10 August 2022]

This movie tells a story of a family in Croatia. The daughter is the main character who wants to go to Harvard and struggles to have a good relationship with her dad.

I like how the relationship between the dad and the family is gradually getting worse and worse. The director made it obvious how the daughter (Murina) and wife (Nela) don't like the dad (Ante). The director did a good job to portray Murina's emotion

The first scene is calm, but after that it get's more tense as time goes by. You can feel the stress of seeing Murina and her dad holding their breath for long. Plus, Ante wanted to restrain her underwater.

Javier is a wealthy businessman who has a lot of money. Ante is a good friend with Javier and wants to sell his land. Javier is a master of sail boating. He traveled a lot for business. The dad didn't want Murina going to Harvard he wanted here to stay in the village to do spearfishing.

Javier was totally the opposite of Murina dad. He cared about Murina and Nela but, he still had is own family and couldn't help them escape Ante. He did care about people, and not necessarily the money.

I think you should watch this film for yourself. I am really impressed by the acting and the story. I am glad I saw this emotional movie movie! 9/10.

Sea, The Emancipator and The Confiner in one

[Mixalidis · 8/10 · 24 September 2022]

It is good to finally watch a Croatian movie with realistic, believable characters and situations. The location, for once, was well used. The (mostly) calm, vast sea is in contrast with the tempest inside characters and them being confined to a lone home on the island. The similarity of the barren Kornati islands are in contrast to complex personas, all different from each other. Having small parts of the plot underwater was amazing, underwater shots are certainly underutilized in cinema.

The three main characters are well fleshed out, effectively using simple dialogues and body language. Majority of conversations like these certainly do happen in Dalmatia. Curcic, who is a Serbian-born Danish actress, had no accent at all, which was great. Lots of details ensured the movie feels authentic, for example it was crucial for the main character to know to swim well. Gracija and the director already made a short movie set by/in the sea, so it's not a surprise.

I only have few small things to complain about. The first one is the nudity (which I have nothing against), which felt forced with the camera angle that was used. In the interview I read, the director said she did it on purpose because there are certain expectations on how women should film and portray other women, and she wanted to break those stereotypes. In the end, her personal frustrations translated to few distracting scenes.

The second, more important, is the scene before the last, where the director went close to cheap sensationalism. I thought it wasn't necessary. I am fine with the last shot and how the movie "resolved", but a little bit less because of the scene beforehand.

For those who are not Croatians, the crosses on the island were made to commemorate the tragic deaths of young firefighters who died in an accident there more than a decade ago.

P. S. The director said she went "gentle" on Ante and that fathers are "much worse in reality in Croatia". What a sick and untruthful comment from a typical self-loathing modern feminist educated in the West.

Regardless of your or the director's ideology, the movie is absolutely worthy of your attention.

Horrible

[svader · 1/10 · 2 August 2022]

Felt uncomfortable watching this even ten minutes in.

One of the guys says to the dad. . .why your daughter walking around naked to provoke people.

Then you have the friend arrive pawing all over the main protagonist. Add all this to the amount of times you hear her name in the first ten minutes this out me off watching.

Touches soul... "Dreams die in paradise"

[faidonmath · 8/10 · 6 August 2022]

The director and the actors did a great job getting the feelings of each person on the surface. Suddenly, in the so-called East democracies we live along with the referred in the film stereotypes. A fair criticism to the patriarchal family which oppresses mainly the female members whose unhappiness inevitably drives to a miserable if not unloving family. See the twenty-first century shame through the eyes of a girl which is taught to suppress it's freedom... but decides to claim the happiness everyone stole her... Deserved the awards it got, beautiful landscapes. The ending left me feeling optimistic!

Incredible drama

[martinpersson97 · 10/10 · 9 June 2023]

This film, by an acclaimed and very promising director, conveys its story beautifully and with incredible acting.

Each one of the cast do an incredible job, and are directed to perfection.

The cinematography is very unique and interesting, characteristic of the director one might say. It is truly a beautiful and thourough piece of art to experience.

Overall, a great film with a great heart that is definitely recommended for any lover of film, and a very beautifully put together film in every sense of the word, in terms of both technical, artistic and thematic details.

Very emotional, very well written.

Absolutely terrible

[cjjaytha · 1/10 · 27 September 2023]

I was bored.

Aside from killing an animal on camera which is absolutely unacceptable.

The movie was beyond boring. So boring it makes you angry.... when will they get to the point? I won't give the horrible movie the dignity of explain the sexual inappropriateness. Even if I did it clearly didn't work The story was unbelievable

They don't!

The underwater scenes seem to be the absolute only thing that was mildly tolerable.

There was no pay off at the end The charters were unlikable The actors seemed to start better than they can act.

This movie should be banned to the talentless staff crew director and ensemble cast.

Never do a movie again

Wast of time.

Croation Drama

[billcr12 · 5/10 · 16 September 2022]

I took a shot at this Croation drama as I have a blood connection to that country from my mother's side of the family. She grew up with a mother and father who spoke Serbo-Croation and learned English at the age of five in the New York City school system. The scenery of the Adriatic coast is spectacular but the story is nothing new or special as a seventeen year-old girl is controlled by her domineering father. A former boss visits his island home and the fireworks begin when the guest is shown to have had a relationship with the girl's mother. The actors are all fine and the underwater sequences nice but, in the end I was left unhappy with the ambiguous ending.