Iza stakla (2008)

Director:

Zrinko Ogresta

Writers:

Lada Kastelan (writer)
Zrinko Ogresta (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Leon Lucev	...	Nikola Jeren
Jadranka Djokic	...	Maja Jeren
Daria Lorenci	...	Ana
Anja Sovagovic-Despot	...	Ljerka
Bozidarka Frajt	...	Majina majka
Vanja Drach	...	Majin otac
Katarina Ljeljak	...	Ida
Boris Svrtan	...	Bosko
Kresimir Mikic	...	Miha
Nina Violic	...	Marta
Dara Vukic	...	Nikolina majka
Davor Borcic	...	Nikolin otac
Trpimir Jurkic	...	Cestovni radnik
Marija Skaricic	...	Sestra Majina brata
Franjo Dijak	...	Majin brat

Also Known As:

Behind the Glass (International: English title)

Runtime:

Croatia:80 min

Country:

Croatia

Language:

Croatian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Company:

Interfilm

Trapped in a love triangle that had to break in a tragic way

"Iza stakla" is a movie from well-known Croatian director Vinko Bresan and it tells us a story of unhappy life that our three main characters are leading. Marriage between Nikola and Maja Jeren is falling apart because of lack of love and infidelity from Nikola side. Nikola is working as an architect and he's cheating his wife with his associate Ana. Here we've got love triangle that had to break at end, cause everyone wanted something. Maja wants her husband and father for their daughter back but she couldn't forgive him infidelity (although her mother and sister had the same problem), which makes her the strongest character in the movie. Nikola on the other hand is a weak individual and he cannot end his marriage even tough there is no love from his side; at the same time he cannot run away with the women he loves but he keeps on living in lie for over 6 years (Ana). Ana is between two fires, cause she loves Nikola but deep inside knows that he cannot be her man. That's why we've got tragic end (like "Babel" beginning, what happened to Pitt's wife), in which Nikola loses everything and there is no need to pity him because you can't go on pretending that everything is all right when it's not.

What makes this movie believable is a script and the characters that can be fund in every day life. Performances of Lucev, Djokic (bravo!!) and Lorenci are great and in supporting roles we can see all well known Croatian actors. Vinko Bresan's direction is very good and maybe this is the best movie he ever made and maybe it's the best Croatian movie of the year (must see 'Niciji sin' to make final judgment). A little minus is only length of this movie (only 80 minutes); I would add couple of scenes at the end. But I'm meticulous here; this is a great movie that I recommend for every fan of drama and serious movies. Good job done for everyone involved!