‘Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master’ Explores the Journey of a Dying Poet-Ruler and His Paranoid Servant (Exclusive Rotterdam Fest Trailer)

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Astonishing is the Tranquility of My Mentor, Ivan Salatić’s second full-length film, will have its world premiere in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), taking place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. THR now shares an exclusive trailer for this cinematic exploration of identity, dislocation, and belonging.

In this movie I’m talking about, Salatić is both the writer and director. It features Marko Pogačar, Croatia’s most translated contemporary poet, making his debut on the big screen. Alongside him, we have Luka Petrone, Jakov Zovko, and Vanja Matic.

The movie takes place in 19th-century Montenegro, depicting tribes governed by a poet and bishop named Morlak (Pogačar), who have been embroiled in an ancient conflict against a mutual adversary. The plot unfolds as Morlak becomes critically ill and embarks on a quest to find a cure, abandoning his war-ravaged homeland. Accompanied by his daughter and two faithful servants, he seeks refuge in a secluded house in southern Italy, yearning for recovery and tranquility.

Struggling with loyalty and longing for home, Djuko, played by Petrone, is described as being overcome by intense nostalgia, suspicion, and fear. According to the storyline, he grapples with the impending possibility of his master’s demise away from home and becomes increasingly envious as Morlak gets closer to a visiting scholar. This causes Djuko’s mental state to deteriorate, pushing him to the brink of his resilience and creativity.

At the end of this post, you’ll find a trailer that offers a sneak peek into the movie’s poetic tone.

Salatić stated, “Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, a significant historical figure in Montenegro, served as both a poet, leader, and bishop for me. Throughout the 2000s, he was revered by Communists before being adopted by nationalists, who utilized him to suit their perspectives. He evolved into a legendary character, shrouded in mystery, and was regarded as one of Yugoslavia’s greatest writers.

He explained: “The movie uses real-life details as its foundation, and I felt it was crucial to begin with something grounded in those facts before venturing into more creative territory. In other words, this is the heart of filmmaking – the balance between fact and fantasy. It’s not about ensuring historical precision, since the story includes a genuine historical character, but rather about approaching it with a sense of playfulness.

For the audience, it’s not essential to have prior knowledge about historical figures. Instead, the feelings and relationships between the characters – like a master and servant, a father and daughter, or an older, disillusioned man – are relatable. As he pointed out, creating this political group in the film was intriguing because each character had distinct roles based on culture, ideology, and history. Yet, their interactions mirrored those of a usual dysfunctional family on vacation.

Salatić, having earned his Master’s in Film Studies at HFBK in Hamburg and studying Fine and Applied Arts in Belgrade, debuted his short film “Backyards” in the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival back in 2015. His first feature film, titled “You Have the Night“, an allegorical tale depicting the demise of the working class in Europe, made its premiere at Venice in 2018 within the International Critics’ Week. Remarkably, this was the initial time a Montenegrin film was chosen for this particular program.

The movie creator, residing in Belgrade, was among the founders of Meander Film, a production company based in Montenegro, where they made his second full-length film.

The film “Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master” was created by Jelena Angelovski and Dušan Kasalica through Meander Film, in collaboration with Jasmina Sijerčić’s Bocalupo Films (France), Ines Vasiljević and Stefano Sardo’s Nightswim (Italy), Tena Gojić’s Dinaridi Film (Croatia), Dragana Jovović, Stefan Ivančić, and Ognjen Glavonić’s Non-Aligned Films (Serbia), and Boris Raonić’s RTCG (Montenegro).

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Jelena Angelovski and Dušan Kasalica, working with Meander Film, teamed up with Jasmina Sijerčić (Bocalupo Films, France), Ines Vasiljević and Stefano Sardo (Nightswim, Italy), Tena Gojić (Dinaridi Film, Croatia), Dragana Jovović, Stefan Ivančić, and Ognjen Glavonić (Non-Aligned Films, Serbia), and Boris Raonić (RTCG, Montenegro) to produce the film “Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master”.

Watch the trailer for the movie below.

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2025-01-16 18:25