The Great Water (2004) Golemata voda (original title)

Director:

Ivo Trajkov

Writers:

Zhivko Chingo (novel) and
Ivo Trajkov ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 April 2005 (Czech Republic)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

An ailing communist reflects on his childhood in Stalinist Yugoslavia. |

Plot Keywords:

Yugoslavia | Communist | Male Frontal Nudity | Brotherhood | Toilet

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Saso Kekenovski	...	Lem Nikodinoski
Maja Stankovska	...	Isak Keyten
Mitko Apostolovski	...	Ariton
Verica Nedeska	...	Olivera Srezoska
Risto Gogovski	...	The Bellman
Nikolina Kujaca	...	Ariton's Wife
Meto Jovanovski	...	Old Lem Nikodinoski
Aleksandar Ribak	...	Metodija Griskoski
Vladimir Svetiev	...	Sekule (the geography teacher)
Petar Mircevski	...	Dervutoski (the gym teacher)
Goce Deskoski	...	Klimoski
Marina Cakalova	...	Lence
Zoran Popovski	...	Nikolce
Oliver Trifunov	...	Spasko
Goran Ilic	...	Doctor (in the ambulance)
Kiril Gravcev	...	Male Nurse
Boris Damovski	...	1st Bodyguard
Krume Matev	...	2nd Bodyguard
Srdjan Janicijevic	...	Policeman (as Srgjan Janakaijevic)
Kalina Naumovska	...	Policewoman (in the corridor)
Suzana Akbelge	...	1st Nurse
Suzana Al Salkini	...	2nd Nurse (as Suzana Al-Salkini)
Dime Ilijev	...	Hospital Manager (as Dime Iliev)
Dragan Dovlev	...	Soldier
Emil Ruben	...	Doctor (in the corridor and operating room)
Petre Arsovski	...	Military Doctor (as Petar Arsovski)
Ana Kostovska	...	Chief Nurse
Aleksandar Mikic	...	1st Soldier (brings Lem to the orphanage)
Levent Umer-Levi	...	2nd Soldier
Kamka Tocinovski	...	Corporal (as Kamka Tocinoski)
Vasil Simonov	...	Corporal Announcer
Trajce Crvenov	...	Corporal
Ivan Vuckorski	...	Corporal (the glassy eye)
Merlinda Salti	...	Corporal
Biljana Kukulovska	...	Corporal
Trajce Gorgiev	...	1st Counselor (as Trajce Georgiev)
Igor Angelov	...	2nd Counselor
Aleksandra Pesevska	...	3rd Counselor
Elena Mosevska	...	1st Teacher (as Elena Moseva)
Ratka Radmanovic	...	2nd Teacher
Goce Tascukovski	...	Goce
Maja Trajkoska	...	Olivera's Companion
Kire Georgiev	...	1st Comrade in Leather Jacket
Laze Manaskov	...	Soldier (as Lazar Manaskov)
Jordan Vitanov	...	Red Cross Soldier
Srebre Gjakovski	...	Peasant
Jordanka Todorova	...	1st Cook Lady
Dusica Stojanovska	...	2nd Cook Lady (as Duska Stojanovska)
Nikola Hejko	...	The Russian Hero (as Mykola Hejko)
Maja Veljkovic	...	Hero's Suite
Petar Gorko	...	Hero's Suite
Ljupco Bresliski	...	1st Investigator
Vladimir Endrovski	...	2nd Investigator (as Vladimir Endrovski-Ljac)
Vladimir Jacev	...	Investigator's Chief
Branko Beninov	...	Investigator's Secretary
Georgi Dampe Biserkov	...	Military Officer (as Gjorgji Biserkovski-Dampe)
Vlado Jovanovski	...	2nd Comrade in Leather Jacket
Angelina Trencovska	...	Policewoman
Katarina Ilievska	...	Nurse on desk
Lidija Ivanovska	...	Cleaning Lady (as Lidija Ivanoska)
Rade Serbedzija	...	Old Lem (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vasil Mihajlov	...	Evil Corporal

Directed by
Ivo Trajkov

Writing credits
Zhivko Chingo		(novel)
Ivo Trajkov
Vladimir Blazevski
Zivko Cingo		novel

Produced by
Mile Arsovski	....	producer
Vladimír Chrenovský	....	producer
Blerim Destani	....	associate producer
Blazhe Dulev	....	co-producer
Anita Elsani	....	supervising producer
Robert Jazadziski	....	producer
Suki Medencevic	....	producer
Lasto Nikolovski	....	co-producer
Ivo Trajkov	....	producer

Original Music by
Kiril Dzajkovski

Cinematography by
Suki Medencevic

Film Editing by
Atanas Georgiev

Casting by
Nikola Hejko		(as Mykola Hejko)
Ivo Trajkov

Production Design by
Kemal Hrustanovic

Art Direction by
Natasha Dimitrievska
Kiril Spaseski

Set Decoration by
Natasha Dimitrievska

Costume Design by
Zaklina Krstevska

Makeup Department
Halid Redzebasic	....	key makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Filip Cemerski	....	first assistant director
Vanja Dimitrova	....	second assistant director
Slobodan Golubovic-Leman	....	first assistant director: pre-production
Kirijana Nikoloska	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Slavko Gjorgjievski	....	art department coordinator
Julijana Nikolovska	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Vladimír Chrenovský	....	sound designer
Ivo Heger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Petr Pénzes-Gyuricky	....	sound designer
Zoran Stojanovic	....	boom operator
Nenad Vukadinovic	....	sound recordist
Jan Zakora	....	foley artist
Jitka Zvirocká	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Claus Greffel	....	Fire/Inferno artist
Miso Ristov	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Cedomir Blazic	....	gaffer
Dejan Dimeski	....	camera operator
Brand Ferro	....	camera operator
Sasa Ivancic	....	focus puller (as Sasa Ivancevic)
Gjorgji Klincarov	....	assistant camera
Milenko Knezevic	....	best boy grip
Marina Kolovska	....	assistant camera
Ilio Kotorenchev	....	first assistant camera
Sasa Midzoski	....	electrician
Toni Trajkovski	....	grip
Nenad Vasic	....	key grip

Casting Department
Vanja Dimitrova	....	casting
Nikola Hejko	....	casting: children (as Mykola Hejko)

Editorial Department
Pelle Folmer	....	lab post-production coordinator
Demetri Kitsopoulos	....	colorist

Music Department
Levine Andrade	....	musician: first violin

Transportation Department
Tashko Josifov	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Nebojsa Antic	....	helicopter pilot
Dejan Krajcevski	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Artis 3
• LARA Entertainment
• Kaval Film
• Castor Productions
• World Circle Foundation

Distributors

• Falcon (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Picture This! Entertainment (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Media Luna Entertainment (2004) (worldwide) (all media)
• Palisades Pictures (2005) (USA) (all media)

Special Effects

• Digital Film Lab

Other Companies

• Digital Film Lab London  post-production facilities
• Panther Rental  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

"Golemata voda" - Republic of Macedonia (original title)

Runtime:

Czech Republic:93 min | USA:93 min | Argentina:93 min

Country:

Republic of Macedonia | Czech Republic | USA | Germany

Language:

Macedonian | English | Serbo-Croatian | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Czech Republic:12

Filming Locations:

Bitola, Macedonia

Company:

Artis 3

Trivia:

Three main locations: the courtyard, the factory and the lake are actually more than 100 miles from each other. Blending all three locations into one was done by very carefully selected camera angles and set pieces.

Another World War 2 Movie From The Russian Point Of View

Not many movies are made about WW2 that revolve around Russia's point of view, although this movie doesn't really focus much on the war itsself than it does the casualties of war and collateral damage.

Lem is an orphan who is captured by soldiers and put into an orphanage where he and many other orphans are being brainwashed to follow Communism. Being the new kid in the orphanage, he's forced to learn all of the routines that all the other kids already know.

After being there for some time, a new kid arrives by the name of Isak Keyten.

Now all of a sudden Lem doesn't feel so alone and tries his best to befriend the older boy.

The only way he could eventually befriend the boy was to ask the Commander in charge of the orphanage what happened to Isak's girl friend, who had been in the orphanage prior to Isak's arrival.

This movie does a beautiful job of showing how innocence can be lost rather quickly when children are forced to grow up fast in a hostile environment.