Iluzija (2004)

Director:

Svetozar Ristovski

Writers:

Svetozar Ristovski (writer)
Grace Lea Troje (writer)

Release Date:

30 May 2007 (Poland)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

As Macedonia faces its difficult transition, a boy escapes into a world of his own creation.

Plot Keywords:

Bully | Teacher Student Relationship

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Vlado Jovanovski	...	Lazo / Marko's Father
Marko Kovacevic	...	Marko
Jordanco Cevrevski	...	Neighbor (as Danco Cerveski)
Elena Mosevska	...	Angja / Marko's Mother (as Elena Mose)
Slavica Manaskova	...	Fanny / Marko's Sister
Mustafa Nadarevic	...	Teacher
Martin Jovchevski	...	Levi (as Martin Jovcevski)
Nikola Hejko	...	Chernobyl (as Mykola Hejko)
Kiril Gravcev	...	Grafche (as Kiril Grafcev)
Todor Jonovski	...	Lefko
Ivica Mackinoski	...	Cviker
Marija Sikalovska	...	Jasmina
Ivica Bojkovic	...	Urko
Ivica Barbarelov	...	Cobra
Ivan Spasov	...	Romeo

Also Known As:

Mirage (International: English title) (literal title) (USA) (DVD title)
Godini na nadez (Republic of Macedonia) (working title)
Seasons of Hope (Republic of Macedonia) (working title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Republic of Macedonia

Language:

Macedonian | Albanian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Veles, Macedonia

Company:

Small Moves

Trivia:

Svetozar Ristovski intended the film to be ambiguous about Paris existence, depicting him as a fictitious creation of Marko's escapist daydreams, but refusing to deny his existence by separating Marko's dreams and reality. Nikola Djuricko prepared for his role as Paris by weight-training for a month and learning Macedonian.

Movie Connections:

References Top Gun (1986)

Worth seeing for 12 year old Marko Kovacevic's performance alone.

MIRAGE (Iluzija), is a Macedonian film from first time director Svetozar Ristovski, about a boy who is bullied at school, neglected and emotionally abused at home, and without a friend in the world. His teacher gives him hope by encouraging his writing, but eventually he is pushed to the brink. I knew I was going to enjoy this movie immediately as it opened with one of my favorite quote from Nietzsche: "Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man." The movie is about how children can endure physical violence, but not false hope.

The director uses some clever metaphors in the film. Although trains constantly pass through the sleepy Macedonian village, they never stop there. Marko, the child star of the film, seeks refuge in a train graveyard, living in an abandoned train car that will never go anywhere.

There is nothing new about the story, as it's been told time and again in many different languages. What makes it worth watching is an honest look at Macedonian life, it's struggle with poverty and American occupation. But what really made the film for me was a phenomenal performance by 12 year old Marko Kovacevic as Marko. He blew me away. I had the chance to meet the young talent after the film, and he's as cool as he is shy. I would certainly recommend seeing this film for his performance alone. (8/10)