When Father Was Away on Business (1985) Otac na sluzbenom putu (original title)

Director:

Emir Kusturica

Writer:

Abdulah Sidran

Release Date:

11 October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Tito's break-up with Stalin in 1948 marked the beginning of not only confusing, but also very dangerous years for many hard-core Yugoslav communists...

Plot Keywords:

Anti Communist | Child Nudity | Political Prisoner | Sarajevo Yugoslavia | Infant Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Moreno D'E Bartolli	...	Malik
Miki Manojlovic	...	Mehmed Mesa Zolj
Mirjana Karanovic	...	Senija Sena Zolj
Mustafa Nadarevic	...	Zijah Zijo Zulfikarpasic
Mira Furlan	...	Ankica Vidmar
Predrag Lakovic	...	Kucepazitelj Franjo
Pavle Vujisic	...	Dedo Muzamer
Slobodan Aligrudic	...	Ostoja Cekic
Eva Ras	...	Ilonka Petrovic
Aco Djorcev	...	Dr. Ljahaov (as Aleksandar Dorcev)
Emir Hadzihafizbegovic	...	Mladji ujak
Zoran Radmilovic	...	Pilot
Jelena Covic	...	Natasa
Tomislav Gelic	...	Berberin Hamdo
Davor Dujmovic	...	Brat Mirza
Amer Kapetanovic
Silvija Puharic
Zaim Muzaferija	...	Predsjednik
Bozidarka Frajt	...	Doktorova zena
Haris Burina	...	Ostojin sofer
Sinisa Dugaric
Milijana Zirojevic
Dimitrije Vujovic
Vejsil Pecanin
Jasmin Geljo
Nebojsa Surlan
Fahrudin Ahmetbegovic
Aleksandar Zurovac		(as Sasa Zurovac)
Mirsad Zulic

Directed by
Emir Kusturica

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Abdulah Sidran

Produced by
Mirza Pasic	....	producer

Original Music by
Zoran Simjanovic

Cinematography by
Vilko Filac

Film Editing by
Andrija Zafranovic

Production Design by
Predrag Lukovac

Costume Design by
Divna Jovanovic

Makeup Department
Sukrija Sarkic	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Zlatko Lavanic	....	assistant director
Miroslav Mandic	....	assistant director

Art Department
Milorad Kalanj	....	property buyer

Sound Department
Ljubomir Petek	....	sound
Hasan Vejzagic	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Mirsad Herovic	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ljiljana Martic	....	wardrober

Music Department
Semir Cebiric	....	music collaborator

Other crew
Vera Mihic-Jolic	....	administrator
Biljana Pejic	....	secretary to director

Production Companies

• Centar Film
• Forum Sarajevo

Distributors

• Scotia International Filmverleih (1985) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Cannon Film Distributors (USA) (subtitled)
• Hollydan Works (2007-2008) (non-USA) (DVD)
• Koch Lorber Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Otac na sluzbenom putu" - Yugoslavia (original title)

Runtime:

136 min

Country:

Yugoslavia

Language:

Serbian | Hungarian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Finland:K-8 | Norway:15 | Sweden:7 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Company:

Centar Film

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Maradona by Kusturica (2008)

One of the best films ever made

I simply can't believe there are so few viewer comments for this movie, that won the PALME D'OR in Cannes in 1985! By the way, it represented Yugoslavia, a country wich no longer exists...It was much of a surprise back then, as Kusturica was totally unknown, and the movie was entirely produced at home with no financial contribution from abroad. No doubt, this is in the top 3 of best Yugoslavian films, if not he best one ever.

This film is a historical, not only because it deals with a specific historical context, but most of all, because it was all done in SARAJEVO a mere six years before the outbreak of war, at a time when nobody suspected how things would eventually turn out. Note that the movie shows a place where Muslims, Christians and Jews coexist in peace, and this is quite a symbol today when you watch it knowing what came next. It is highly probable that some of the crew died during the Yugoslav conflict, which took place around that same city and cost 300,000 lives.

The lead role by little Moreno de Bartolli is certainly one of the most amazing child performances on screen ever. Otherwise, two of the actors appeared in famous films after that. Miki Manojlovic who plays the father, is a Kusturica regular, and has become famous internationally; the late Davor Dujmovic who plays the elder brother plays also the lead role as Perhan in "Time of the Gypsies". Generally speaking, all the acting here is first class.

Also, it isn't so often that the world of adults is shown through the eyes of a child, and when it's done, it is often in a twee or awkward manner. Not at all here. Besides, Kusturica's first work has a very honest and sensitive approach of themes like fatherhood, adultery and betrayal. It 's all lightyears away from the frenzy found in the artist's later work.

Warning : this movie is highly emotional. When I saw it again recently after a long time, I'm not ashamed to say I wept twice, and I'm not a single case. Yet, it is often very funny as well. Note that, unlike many European movies, it ends rather well and on a hopeful note. If you like tragi-comical movies like "the Bicycle Thief", no doubt you will love this too.

The very light sexual allusions and nudity caused an R rating in America. Quite a pity, as this work is far more decent than most releases, and would be a lot more interesting and appealing for young audiences than the idiotic stuff they are used to watch. I would even consider showing this in schools.

Definitely a 10 out of 10, as far as I'm concerned.