December 11, 2022
FILM: MURINA
DIRECTED BY: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
STARRING GRACIJA FILIPOVIC, DANICA CURCIC, LEO LUCEV
RATING: 3 ½ OUT OF 4 STARS
By Dan Pal
Here’s a film that may have slipped through the cracks this year but is currently streaming on Showtime and is nominated for three Film Independent Spirit Awards: Best First Feature, Best Breakthrough Performance, and Best Cinematography. There are a few reasons why the film may not have been widely seen but it’s worth examining for the complex character study that it is.
Murina is not the name of a character in the film but, according to online sources, is a word for a genus of vesper bats, eels, or, if I understand the Irish use of the word as a name, it means beloved; tender. Perhaps each of these definitions could describe the main character Julija, played by Gracija Filipovic. She has a “batty” quality and swims with the slinkiness of an eel. She’s not Irish though but Croatian and would likely not be described as beloved or tender but perhaps under the surface she is. Julija IS a very complicated character who has a contentious relationship with her father Ante who berates her for walking around their vacation spot on the Adriatic Sea in tight and very revealing swim suits. Julija is not traditionally beautiful but she definitely comes across as a mature, sexually aware young woman who is in fact even younger than she looks.
The inciting incident of the film occurs with the arrival of dad’s friend Javier from New York. Javier is a bit more-worldly then Ante who’s gruff exterior and working class attitudes are a turn off for Julija who dreams of a life far more enriching than what she has. She comes across a bit like Faye Dunaway’s Bonnie in the film Bonnie & Clyde, just waiting for some excitement to take her away. Her mother Nela is very beautiful, echoing a bit of Penelope Cruz in her features, but dotes a bit much on Ante. Both Nela and Julija share an attraction to Javier who has come to at the setting to possibly purchase Ante’s land as a beach resort development.
Throughout the film the male gaze is clearly present as we see both Julija and Nela in skimpy bathing suits and undergarments. However, the film’s writer/director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic turns the attention around as Julija, in particular, spends much of her time gazing at the much older Javier. Before you start thinking this has Lolita written all over it, Javier doesn’t really come across as having much interest in Julija. Rather there’s a hint that he previously had a relationship with Nela which only fuels Ante’s inner rage even more. For as much as Ante wants to impress and sell his land to his old friend, he’s fully aware of Javier’s alluring qualities and possible threat to his family.
The relationship between Julija and Ante becomes even more volatile as the film goes on. His need to control his daughter is certainly abusive in more ways than one. As such, we don’t feel a lot for him but do empathize with Julija. She’s trapped in her world and is attempting to claw her way out, which is metaphorically represented in disturbing but powerful scenes near the end of the film.
One of the great features of the film is its underwater cinematography which masterfully captures the world under the surface tension. Like Julija, the ocean is full of mystery without much breathing space. Julija’s own journey is to find that space in order to break free and realize her dreams.
Murina isn’t an easy watch at times but it does present an interesting set of characters who are each flawed and trapped by their own circumstances.
Murina is currently playing on Showtime.
FILM: MURINA
DIRECTED BY: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
STARRING GRACIJA FILIPOVIC, DANICA CURCIC, LEO LUCEV
RATING: 3 ½ OUT OF 4 STARS
By Dan Pal
Here’s a film that may have slipped through the cracks this year but is currently streaming on Showtime and is nominated for three Film Independent Spirit Awards: Best First Feature, Best Breakthrough Performance, and Best Cinematography. There are a few reasons why the film may not have been widely seen but it’s worth examining for the complex character study that it is.
Murina is not the name of a character in the film but, according to online sources, is a word for a genus of vesper bats, eels, or, if I understand the Irish use of the word as a name, it means beloved; tender. Perhaps each of these definitions could describe the main character Julija, played by Gracija Filipovic. She has a “batty” quality and swims with the slinkiness of an eel. She’s not Irish though but Croatian and would likely not be described as beloved or tender but perhaps under the surface she is. Julija IS a very complicated character who has a contentious relationship with her father Ante who berates her for walking around their vacation spot on the Adriatic Sea in tight and very revealing swim suits. Julija is not traditionally beautiful but she definitely comes across as a mature, sexually aware young woman who is in fact even younger than she looks.
The inciting incident of the film occurs with the arrival of dad’s friend Javier from New York. Javier is a bit more-worldly then Ante who’s gruff exterior and working class attitudes are a turn off for Julija who dreams of a life far more enriching than what she has. She comes across a bit like Faye Dunaway’s Bonnie in the film Bonnie & Clyde, just waiting for some excitement to take her away. Her mother Nela is very beautiful, echoing a bit of Penelope Cruz in her features, but dotes a bit much on Ante. Both Nela and Julija share an attraction to Javier who has come to at the setting to possibly purchase Ante’s land as a beach resort development.
Throughout the film the male gaze is clearly present as we see both Julija and Nela in skimpy bathing suits and undergarments. However, the film’s writer/director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic turns the attention around as Julija, in particular, spends much of her time gazing at the much older Javier. Before you start thinking this has Lolita written all over it, Javier doesn’t really come across as having much interest in Julija. Rather there’s a hint that he previously had a relationship with Nela which only fuels Ante’s inner rage even more. For as much as Ante wants to impress and sell his land to his old friend, he’s fully aware of Javier’s alluring qualities and possible threat to his family.
The relationship between Julija and Ante becomes even more volatile as the film goes on. His need to control his daughter is certainly abusive in more ways than one. As such, we don’t feel a lot for him but do empathize with Julija. She’s trapped in her world and is attempting to claw her way out, which is metaphorically represented in disturbing but powerful scenes near the end of the film.
One of the great features of the film is its underwater cinematography which masterfully captures the world under the surface tension. Like Julija, the ocean is full of mystery without much breathing space. Julija’s own journey is to find that space in order to break free and realize her dreams.
Murina isn’t an easy watch at times but it does present an interesting set of characters who are each flawed and trapped by their own circumstances.
Murina is currently playing on Showtime.