This guide provides an introduction to Croatia and Croatian studies at KU, recommending resources about Croatian culture, geography, history, art, language, literature, politics, and more. Created by Oksana Vykhopen with Title VI funding from CREES
The overarching questions of space representation and construction, bodies on screen, issues of national identification in a postcolonial framework, and cinema as a form of cultural memory are explored through the lens of specific national cinemas or contemporary Croatian, Hungarian, Polish, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, and Romanian films.
Murina (2021) Trailer
On a remote island along Croatia’s Adriatic coast, 17-year-old Julija (Gracija Filipovic) spends her days diving for eel with her domineering father Ante and watching other teens party on a nearby yacht. Julija bristles at Ante’s heavy handed cruelty and resents her mother Nela’s passivity. She longs for independence but is unsure how to achieve it, until the arrival of the rich and mysterious Javier seems to offer a way out. Javier is considering buying Ante’s land to build a resort, which would allow the family to escape their island isolation for the city. Once Ante’s employer and Nela’s lover, Javier flirts shamelessly with Nela and Julija, setting off a subtle battle of hypermasculine one-upmanship that pushes Ante to humiliate and control Julija even more. Flattered by Javier’s praise and stories of traveling the world, Julija sees him as the solution to all her problems. But does his affection portend freedom, or something more sinister?
Safe Place (2022) Trailer
Follows Damir, who's trying to take his own life while his family wants to save him. Everything happens over a period of just 24 hours.
Film programs, available in Croatian
(Available in Croatian)
Cultural studies approaches in the study of Eastern European cinema : spaces, bodies, memories by Call Number: PN1993.5.E82 C85 2016ISBN: 9781443800594Publication Date: 2016The overarching questions of space representation and construction, bodies on screen, issues of national identification in a postcolonial framework, and cinema as a form of cultural memory are explored through the lens of specific national cinemas or contemporary Croatian, Hungarian, Polish, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, and Romanian films.