Aleksandar Manic
Czech Republic, Serbia & Montenegro | 2005 | 78mins | 35mm | Colour
Shutka is a small town, somewhere in the Balkans, considered by many to be among the poorest places in Europe. But in Shutka, a man’s wealth is not determined by money. Here, a wealthy man is the one who knows how to re-invent himself.
Perhaps this is why rumour has it that in this town, more championships are being held and more champions crowned than anywhere else in the world; where even canaries, pigeons and ganders are trained to compete for trophies in singing, flying and boxing. Evil genies and vampires are being exterminated with fire and sheer willpower while popular songs are composed in less than fifteen minutes.
Through a number of intertwining stories, this film takes us into a world that is generally closed to outsiders. As a mosaic of Shukta unfolds, we are led to ask ourselves:
Where lays the secret of joy? Aren’t the smallest things in life often those that make life such an unforgettable experience?
Don’t look for Shukta on a geographical map. Shutka is a state of mind.
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