Lana's Rain (2002)

Director:

Michael S. Ojeda

Writer:

Michael S. Ojeda

Release Date:

27 February 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Brother Sister Relationship | Bosnian War | Bosnia Herzegovina | Heroin | Prostitution

Cast

Oksana Orlenko	...	Lana
Nickolai Stoilov	...	Darco Lucev
Luoyong Wang	...	Julian
Stephanie Childers	...	Katrina
Stacey Slowik	...	Vermonica
David Darlow	...	Gen. Donoffrio
Alex Diatchenco	...	Celo
Tony Castillo	...	Marco
Kelly Haizen	...	Alex
Robert Varvel	...	Nayona
Yasen Peyankov	...	Cab Driver
Ron Dean	...	Lou
Jason Pardo	...	Leon
Abelardo Ghoulam	...	Gus
Andrzej Krukowski	...	Doctor (as Andrew Krukowski)
Khallid Shabazz	...	Newspaper Vendor
Holly France	...	Nurse Shot
Jason Wells	...	Surgeon
Travis Taylor	...	Thug #2
Jack McCabe	...	John #1
Joanne Goodman	...	Bag Lady
Donna Whats	...	Office Clerk
Grant Adelman	...	Bartender
George Long	...	Homeless Man
Karen Racutt	...	Homeless Woman
Richard Shavzin	...	Hotel Clerk
Debbie Barton	...	Marco's Prostitute
Lora Starkman	...	Bar Girl (as Laura Starkman)
Matthew Stratton	...	Thug #1
Jackie Seigel	...	Bar Patron
Juan Frausto	...	Farther Moving
Kevin Deigel	...	Boy Moving
Michael Seigel	...	Boy Moving
James Purcinski	...	Skateboarder
Davor Kelek	...	Bosnian Soldier #1
Edward Perovic	...	Bosnian Soldier #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ed Cray	...	Bosnian Gangster
Kelley Hazen	...	Alex
Cris D'Annunzio	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Sofie Dejus	...	Smoking Hooker (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael S. Ojeda		(as Michael Ojeda)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael S. Ojeda		(as Michael Ojeda)

Produced by
Romano Bogdan	....	line producer: Croatia
Carlton Brown	....	associate producer
Jeff Dillard	....	executive producer
Jeffery Dillard	....	executive producer
Joel Goodman	....	producer
Robert Max Kuhar	....	co-producer
James McClain	....	executive producer
Misty Tosh	....	co-producer

Original Music by
William Brown

Cinematography by
Gennadi Balitski

Film Editing by
Michael S. Ojeda		(as Michael Ojeda)

Casting by
Richard Shavzin

Production Design by
Lorianne Olson

Art Direction by
Michelle Caplan

Set Decoration by
Merje Veski

Makeup Department
Denise Pawlak	....	assistant makeup artist
Patricia Ranger	....	assistant hair stylist: second unit
Patricia Ranger	....	assistant makeup artist: second unit
Eleanor Sabaduquia	....	key hair stylist
Eleanor Sabaduquia	....	key makeup artist
Rebecca Wachtel	....	key makeup artist: second unit

Production Management
Misty Tosh	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michelle Abel	....	second second assistant director
Frank Caridi	....	second assistant director: second unit
Frank Pinnock	....	first assistant director
Bruce Terris	....	first assistant director: second unit
Jen White	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Abelardo Ghoulam	....	sculptor
Pete Ibarra	....	assistant property master
Orion Jensen	....	construction coordinator
Anthony Neil	....	property master
Heather O'Connor	....	art department assistant
Sean Stickney	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Ken Bogpanski	....	boom operator
Craig Harding	....	audio dialogue re-enforcement
Brian Rohr	....	sound editor
Ernest J. Saunders III	....	production sound mixer
Philippe Espantoso	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Pierre Paquet	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mary Stratton	....	special effects assistant
Matthew Stratton	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Lowell	....	stunt double: Darko
Linda Perlin	....	stunt double: Lana
Ed Purcinski	....	stunt car mechanic
Amory Williams	....	stunt car mechanic

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Adkins	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Gennadi Balitski	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Carlton Brown	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Shaw Hawkins Burrows	....	key grip
Jeff Conrad	....	gaffer
Deborah Cottington	....	still photographer
Simone Garcia	....	grip
Makoto Higashi	....	grip
Matthew Janke	....	dolly grip: second unit (as Matt Jenke)
David Jones	....	dolly grip: second unit
Julie 'Doc' Lindstrom	....	dolly grip: second unit
Jimmy Molise	....	grip
June Park	....	second second assistant camera: "a" camera
Gina Provenzale	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Yaanis Rutmans	....	best boy (as Yannis Rutmans)
Dave Wightman	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera

Casting Department
Michelle Abel	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lenore Bruce	....	wardrobe assistant
Holly France	....	wardrobe supervisor
Asia Roverson	....	wardrobe assistant
R.J. Seidel	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Brian Rohr	....	first assistant editor
Bob Sliga	....	colorist

Transportation Department
Timothy Jedlink	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jennifer Annello	....	script supervisor
Debbie Barton	....	production assistant
Jim Cable	....	production assistant: second unit
Rocco Cataldo	....	production assistant
Yasir Chaudhry	....	production coordinator
Mike Clay	....	craft service
Sofie Dejus	....	production assistant
Jeff Dillard	....	legal services
Juan Frausto	....	production assistant
Maya Gavin	....	location assistant
Enrique Gomez Jr.	....	production assistant (as Enrique Gomez)
Brian Grant	....	production assistant
Adrienne Kortez	....	production assistant: second unit
Robert Max Kuhar	....	dialogue coach
Maris Lidaka	....	production assistant (as Maris Lidaka Jr.)
Carla Lyles-Jones	....	legal assistant
Ken Marek	....	production assistant
Jeremy Martino	....	production assistant
Chezne McArthur	....	assistant to producer
Ian Michaels	....	production assistant
Heather Nelson	....	legal assistant
Reggie Neube	....	production assistant: second unit
Loren Olsen	....	assistant craft service
Mitul Patel	....	publicity assistant
Al Pearlman	....	weapons provider
Al Pearlman	....	weapons supervisor
Jason Rea	....	production assistant
Kirby Scrub	....	production assistant
Cindy Short	....	location scout
Stacey Slowik	....	production assistant
Travis Taylor	....	key production assistant
LeShay N. Tomlinson	....	script supervisor: second unit
David Vlasits	....	key production assistant: second unit

Production Companies

• Reigning Pictures

Distributors

• ISA Releasing (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Isa Releasing Limited

Other Companies

• Film & Tape Works  transfer supervision

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality, drug use and language

Runtime:

USA:107 min | Canada:105 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:Unrated | USA:R | Canada:18A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Reigning Pictures

Quotes:

[first lines]
title cards:During and following the Balkan Wars of the 1990's, various types of war criminals and low level mobsters escaped to countries in Western Europe fleeing either the authorities or their enemies. Some even found their way to America, hiding out on the back streets of large cities while taking on new identities. Many more innocent people came to America dreaming of a better life and a fresh start away from all the horrors they had witnessed.
title cards:Out of this turmoil comes the story of Darco Lucev and his sister Lana...

Soundtrack:

Exhibit 16

Independent cinema at its best!

Lana's Rain is a really great example of what's right in today's independent cinema. This is an original film that examines the political strife in post-Cold War Eastern Europe the difficulties faced by immigrants in modern America. But it doesn't stop there: Lana's Rain also looks at the Eastern European criminal underworld, and its affects on refugees in America. It also takes an unflinching look at the horrors of prostitution, through the eyes of original characters in this fascinating genre piece.

The story is told through a familiar genre: the action/crime picture, but this isn't some Tarantino knock-off or film noir wannabe. Michael Ojeda's debut takes a real daring step by having Eastern European actors speaking in Croatian for much of the film! In an age where too much dialog is dumbed-down by Hollywood and when foreign films are poorly dubbed by producers, it's refreshing to see an American director using language the way it was meant to be. Ojeda keeps the action flowing neatly, while getting us into the lives of these characters. We end up caring a lot about these people.

As for the cast of unknowns: they are uniformly excellent. I heard that `Lana' Oksana Orlenko, won the best actress award at the Milan Film Festival. No surprises there! She's immensely talented, radiating pathos and a raw sensuality from the screen. When more people see this film, I'll bet movie goers will fall absolutely in love with her!

Bottom line: don't le me describe this film for you.SEE IT!