Goran Paskaljević

Goran Paskaljević was a Serbian and former Yugoslav film director. Born in Belgrade, he was raised by his grandparents in Niš in southern Serbia, following the divorce of his parents. Fourteen years later he returned to Belgrade where he worked with his stepfather at the Yugoslav Film Archive. Paskaljević belonged to a group of several Yugoslav filmmakers who studied abroad and graduated from the prestigious Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). After returning to Yugoslavia, he made some 30 documentaries and 16 feature films which were screened at many international film festivals (such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto and San Sebastian) and met with critical acclaim. The rise of nationalism during the breakup of Yugoslavia forced him to leave his country in 1992. In 1998 he returned to Yugoslavia to make the Powder Keg (known as Cabaret Balkan in the USA) which won the FIPRESCI prize at the Venice Film Festival and at the European Film Awards. In 2001, Variety International Film Guide marked him as one of the world's top five directors of the year. The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) presented a full retrospective of his work in January 2008. It was BFI Southbank's (London) turn to organize in July 2010 a full retrospective of his 16 feature films, along with the publication of a monograph (in English) about his work. Paskaljević lived between Belgrade and Paris, France and he held both Serbian and French citizenship. As ...

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Midwinter Night's Dream (2004)

A simple story of an ex-convict who comes home after 10 years, only to find two squatters in the form of a woman and her autistic daughter. Though Lazar initially plans to kick out Jasna and Jovana, he changes his mind after seeing the squalid conditions of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Lazar Ristovski  •  Jasna Žalica  •  Jovana Mitić  •  Slobodan 'Boda' Ninković

A simple story of an ex-convict who comes home after 10 years, only to find two squatters in the form of a woman and her autistic daughter. Though Lazar initially plans to kick out Jasna and Jovana, he changes his mind after seeing the squalid conditions of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Lazar Ristovski  •  Jasna Žalica  •  Jovana Mitić  •  Slobodan 'Boda' Ninković

Tango Argentino (1992)

A boy who is helping lonely, elderly people revives their urge to live and receives in return their love and understanding, which have been denied to him by his parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Milosav 'Mija' Aleksić  •  Nikola Žarković  •  Miki Manojlović  •  Rahela Ferari

A boy who is helping lonely, elderly people revives their urge to live and receives in return their love and understanding, which have been denied to him by his parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Milosav 'Mija' Aleksić  •  Nikola Žarković  •  Miki Manojlović  •  Rahela Ferari

The Dog Who Loved Trains (1977)

A fugitive girl, a stuntman and a young man who lost his dog quite some time before, are joining together on a trip to reach each of their own destination. A youngster gets emotionally connected to the girl, and he'd try to help her to leave the bossy stuntman, to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Svetlana Bojković  •  Irfan Mensur  •  Velimir Živojinović  •  Pavle Vuisić

A fugitive girl, a stuntman and a young man who lost his dog quite some time before, are joining together on a trip to reach each of their own destination. A youngster gets emotionally connected to the girl, and he'd try to help her to leave the bossy stuntman, to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Svetlana Bojković  •  Irfan Mensur  •  Velimir Živojinović  •  Pavle Vuisić

How Harry Became a Tree (2002)

Set in rural Ireland. Believing that "a man is measured by his enemies", Harry Maloney (Colm Meany) sets out to ruin George O'Flaherty – the most powerful man in town, who not only owns the local pub and most of the businesses in the area, but is also the local ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Colm Meaney  •  Adrian Dunbar  •  Cillian Murphy  •  Kerry Condon

Set in rural Ireland. Believing that "a man is measured by his enemies", Harry Maloney (Colm Meany) sets out to ruin George O'Flaherty – the most powerful man in town, who not only owns the local pub and most of the businesses in the area, but is also the local ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Colm Meaney  •  Adrian Dunbar  •  Cillian Murphy  •  Kerry Condon

Time of Miracles (1989)

September 1945. The new communist authorities go into the church, hang the flag of the Party and paint over the old frescoes, but each time the frescoes miraculously return. A stranger comes to town and works miracles; the townsfolk are convinced he is the Messiah. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Miki Manojlović  •  Dragan Maksimović  •  Mirjana Karanović  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković

September 1945. The new communist authorities go into the church, hang the flag of the Party and paint over the old frescoes, but each time the frescoes miraculously return. A stranger comes to town and works miracles; the townsfolk are convinced he is the Messiah. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Miki Manojlović  •  Dragan Maksimović  •  Mirjana Karanović  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković

Guardian Angel (1987)

A journalist investigates the smuggling of gypsy children on the black market and tries to save a young boy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Ljubiša Samardžić  •  Jakup Amzić  •  Neda Arnerić  •  Šaban Bajramović

A journalist investigates the smuggling of gypsy children on the black market and tries to save a young boy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Ljubiša Samardžić  •  Jakup Amzić  •  Neda Arnerić  •  Šaban Bajramović

When Day Breaks (2012)

The story of a retired music professor, Misha Brankov, who under unusual circumstances discovers his true origins. At the place where once stood a Nazi concentration camp for Jews during World War II, a metal box filled with documents is found. It was buried by an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Mustafa Nadarević  •  Predrag Ejdus  •  Meto Jovanovski  •  Zafir Hadžimanov

The story of a retired music professor, Misha Brankov, who under unusual circumstances discovers his true origins. At the place where once stood a Nazi concentration camp for Jews during World War II, a metal box filled with documents is found. It was buried by an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Mustafa Nadarević  •  Predrag Ejdus  •  Meto Jovanovski  •  Zafir Hadžimanov

Earth Days Pass By (1979)

A profoundly empathetic, unpretentious and droll account of a how a swarthy, Hemingway-like sailor upends the droning routines of a nursing home when he checks himself in. Though his subtle interactions with the other residents – including his cantankerous roommate ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Dimitrije Vujović  •  Obren Helcer  •  Šarlota Pešić  •  Mila Keča

A profoundly empathetic, unpretentious and droll account of a how a swarthy, Hemingway-like sailor upends the droning routines of a nursing home when he checks himself in. Though his subtle interactions with the other residents – including his cantankerous roommate ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Dimitrije Vujović  •  Obren Helcer  •  Šarlota Pešić  •  Mila Keča

Twilight Time (1982)

After spending 20 years in America, aging widower Marko Sekulovic (Karl Malden) returns to his Yugoslavian homeland to take care of his two young grandchildren. But Marko's quiet life is in for a shake up when he meets the pretty new village schoolteacher, Lana ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Karl Malden  •  Jodi Thelen  •  Damien Nash  •  Mia Roth

After spending 20 years in America, aging widower Marko Sekulovic (Karl Malden) returns to his Yugoslavian homeland to take care of his two young grandchildren. But Marko's quiet life is in for a shake up when he meets the pretty new village schoolteacher, Lana ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Karl Malden  •  Jodi Thelen  •  Damien Nash  •  Mia Roth

The Beach Guard in Winter (1976)

Grown up in an atmosphere of failed marriage of his parents, a young man wants to go his way throughout life. School he finished doesn't give him the opportunity to find a job, so he accepts the position of a beach guard in winter period.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Irfan Mensur  •  Gordana Kosanović  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković  •  Mira Banjac

Grown up in an atmosphere of failed marriage of his parents, a young man wants to go his way throughout life. School he finished doesn't give him the opportunity to find a job, so he accepts the position of a beach guard in winter period.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Irfan Mensur  •  Gordana Kosanović  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković  •  Mira Banjac

Someone Else's America (1995)

This tale takes place in a bar. The Spanish Alonso and his blind mother run this place. Bay, who is Alonso's friend live here too. This story tells something about Alonso and Bay and the "American Dream".  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Tom Conti  •  Miki Manojlović  •  María Casares  •  Zorka Manojlović

This tale takes place in a bar. The Spanish Alonso and his blind mother run this place. Bay, who is Alonso's friend live here too. This story tells something about Alonso and Bay and the "American Dream".  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Tom Conti  •  Miki Manojlović  •  María Casares  •  Zorka Manojlović

The Optimists (2006)

Five scenarios in which people have trouble distinguishing truth from illusions. Each segment reflects the motto of Voltaire's Candide: "Optimism is insisting everything is good, when everything is bad."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Lazar Ristovski  •  Bojana Novaković  •  Petar Božović  •  Tihomir Arsić

Five scenarios in which people have trouble distinguishing truth from illusions. Each segment reflects the motto of Voltaire's Candide: "Optimism is insisting everything is good, when everything is bad."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Lazar Ristovski  •  Bojana Novaković  •  Petar Božović  •  Tihomir Arsić

Honeymoons (2009)

'Honeymoons' shows us that the distance between Eastern and Western Europe is more than a question of kilometers. The films follows two couples, one is Albania, one in Serbia, who in the midst of wedding celebrations decide to leave their respective countries to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Nebojša Milovanović  •  Jelena Trkulja  •  Jozef Shiroka  •  Lazar Ristovski

'Honeymoons' shows us that the distance between Eastern and Western Europe is more than a question of kilometers. The films follows two couples, one is Albania, one in Serbia, who in the midst of wedding celebrations decide to leave their respective countries to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Nebojša Milovanović  •  Jelena Trkulja  •  Jozef Shiroka  •  Lazar Ristovski

Special Treatment (1980)

Dr. Ilic works in the hospital for compulsory treatment of alcoholics. By conducting his own "special treatment" through physical exercises, apple eating, the healing effects of listening to Wagner's music and psychodrama, a group of six patients have been taken to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Ljuba Tadić  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković  •  Dušica Žegarac  •  Milena Dravić

Dr. Ilic works in the hospital for compulsory treatment of alcoholics. By conducting his own "special treatment" through physical exercises, apple eating, the healing effects of listening to Wagner's music and psychodrama, a group of six patients have been taken to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Ljuba Tadić  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković  •  Dušica Žegarac  •  Milena Dravić

Cabaret Balkan (1998)

20 people's paths crisscross one night in violent mid-'90s Belgrade.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Ivan Bekjarev  •  Vojislav Brajović  •  Mira Banjac  •  Aleksandar Berček

20 people's paths crisscross one night in violent mid-'90s Belgrade.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Ivan Bekjarev  •  Vojislav Brajović  •  Mira Banjac  •  Aleksandar Berček

The Elusive Summer of '68 (1984)

For the young man who lives in Serbian province town, the maturing coincides with the turbulent political events of the year 1968.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Slavko Štimac  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković  •  Mira Banjac  •  Milosav 'Mija' Aleksić

For the young man who lives in Serbian province town, the maturing coincides with the turbulent political events of the year 1968.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Slavko Štimac  •  Danilo 'Bata' Stojković  •  Mira Banjac  •  Milosav 'Mija' Aleksić

Land of the Gods (2016)

After a long exile, Rahul returns to his village in the Himalayas. It causes commotion amongst the villagers, who have never forgiven him for his sins in the past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Victor Banerjee  •  Geetanjali Thapa  •  Uttara Baokar  •  V.K. Sharma

After a long exile, Rahul returns to his village in the Himalayas. It causes commotion amongst the villagers, who have never forgiven him for his sins in the past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Victor Banerjee  •  Geetanjali Thapa  •  Uttara Baokar  •  V.K. Sharma

Despite the Fog (2019)

According to Interpol, over ten thousand refugees of minors without parental care are wandering today in Europe, half of which are on Italian roads. "Despite the Fog" is a movie story about one of them. In short: Ali-Musa Sarhan, a refugee whose parents drowned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Donatella Finocchiaro  •  Giorgio Tirabassi  •  Francesco Acquaroli  •  Luigi Diberti

According to Interpol, over ten thousand refugees of minors without parental care are wandering today in Europe, half of which are on Italian roads. "Despite the Fog" is a movie story about one of them. In short: Ali-Musa Sarhan, a refugee whose parents drowned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Donatella Finocchiaro  •  Giorgio Tirabassi  •  Francesco Acquaroli  •  Luigi Diberti

The Legend of Lapot (1972)

In a remote mountainous village elderly people no longer deemed productive are stoned to death.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Tisa Radenković

In a remote mountainous village elderly people no longer deemed productive are stoned to death.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Tisa Radenković

The Servant (1973)

Film is based on a folk tale and tells about how you cannot run away from your destiny. Events take place in unknown place a few centuries ago. Rich landlord cannot have children despite the fact he has a young wife. He hires an unknown drifter who is roaming ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Velimir Živojinović  •  Ljiljana Gazdić  •  Dušan Janićijević  •  Minja Vojvodić

Film is based on a folk tale and tells about how you cannot run away from your destiny. Events take place in unknown place a few centuries ago. Rich landlord cannot have children despite the fact he has a young wife. He hires an unknown drifter who is roaming ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Goran Paskaljević
CAST:  Velimir Živojinović  •  Ljiljana Gazdić  •  Dušan Janićijević  •  Minja Vojvodić
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