MUM
Nikola Ležaić
Qče / Nukleus Film
NIKOLA travels with his father to return the remains of his grandmother back to her home village in Croatia, where he learns a lesson about parenthood, family, and memories that are sometimes not real.
NIKOLA (34) is a film director stuck in advertising. Dissatisfied with his career, he buys an old van that he plans to convert into a camper. He will become a father in a couple of months and wants to travel with his wife and daughter.
In the meantime, his parents call him when they find out that the possibility has opened up to finally return the remains of his late grandmother, PERA, who fled Croatia during the war and died in Serbia in the early 2000s, to Đevrske, her native village in Dalmatia. Since he hasn’t seen his grandmother's house for 25 years, he enthusiastically accepts the idea.
He sets off with his father, MIRKO (74), and on that journey he learns a lesson about parenthood, family, the time that passes, and memories that are sometimes not real.
NIKOLA LEŽAIĆ / IMDB
Born in 1981, in Bor, Yugoslavia, NIKOLA LEŽAIĆ is a screenwriter, director and producer based in Belgrade, Serbia. He graduated film directing at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. His debut TILVA ROŠ is one of the most acclaimed Serbian films of the last decade. It premiered in Sarajevo where it won the Heart of Sarajevo award. It screened in Locarno, Rotterdam, Warsaw, and at over 40 other festivals. It was nominated for the best debut at 2011 EFA Awards. Nikola produced THE DISOBEDIENT, which premiered at Sundance. He has directed over two hundred music videos and commercials. MUM is set to be his second film.
Director’s statement
MUM is practically a transcript of the events set in October 2015, when, 10 years after her passing, we managed to transfer the remains of my grandmother from Serbia back to Dalmatia. I knew that this was probably the last „road trip“ I was to take with my father, so I focused on memorising the moments I spent with him at his birthplace.
My father died of coronavirus in November 2020, the very day I tested positive myself. This miserable ending crushed me, the fact that I even wouldn’t be able to attend his funeral, because I had the distressing virus myself. The only thing granting me some modicum of peace was this journey to Dalmatia. I tried to think that I had already witnessed a double funeral, with him by my side, and in a way, that journey became a substitute for his final week of agony. And I felt some relief.
I wanted to capture the memory while it was still relatively clear in my mind, without romanticising it. This meant that I had to remember every single thing that led to this event, each and every smallest, silliest conversation, the most irrelevant of details, to shoot it in our actual house in Djevrske, to recreate the funeral at the very spot it actually took place... To make a documentary with actors, basically.
Along with Czech comedies, my main inspiration is drawn from Kiarostami’s LIFE, AND NOTHING MORE and THE WIND WILL CARRY US, Cassavetes’ HUSBANDS, and to some extent Cuaron’s Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN. This stylistic asceticism is very dear to my heart – no shot changes and camera movements where they are not absolutely necessary, no spectacular shots, no exaggerated and overemphasised emotion, but plenty of real-life warmth and duality.
This film is essentially about memories, not only mine, but also about the very notion of remembering, of how we remember people and events, of how the history we learn or remember is nothing but a mixture of distorted memories. It explores people’s need to remember and be remembered, because for as long as we remember them, they exist.
SINIŠA JURIČIĆ / IMDB
Born in 1965 in Zagreb, SINIŠA JURIČIĆ graduated in production from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb in 2009. He founded Nukleus Film in 2002. He focuses on the production of films by talented filmmakers from Southeast Europe. The films he has produced have been awarded and funded in and outside the country, winning awards in Cannes and Berlin.
In 2012, he was awarded the annual Albert Kapović Award by the Croatian Producers Association for his contribution to the international promotion of Croatian film.
He is a member of the European Film Academy and the production networks of EAVE, ACE and Inside Pictures.
Producer's statement:
Nikola Ležaić is probably one of the most talented directors of the entire region of former Yugoslavia and his debut film confirmed his raw talent and capability to turn his personal stories into powerful works of art. His first film TILVA ROŠ was an indie gem that stormed the region and initiated important debates about the mistreatment and disillusion of today’s youth. Since we unfortunately didn’t work together on this film, MUM is a fantastic opportunity for us to co-operate on his sophomore project, especially since the film takes place in Croatia and is telling a story that is very important for the relationship of the two countries that fought a bitter war in the 90s.
The film has already been granted funding by Film Center Serbia Fund and got support as a part of Nukleus Film Media slate. We're currently applying to HAVC (Croatian Audiovisual Centre) and looking for additional partners to wrap the financing.
Where are we at?
Total estimated budget: 468.390 €
Finances pending: 130.000 €
Financing in place: 338.390 €
Production timeline
Pre-production / September-October 2022
Production / October-November 2022
Post-production / November-April 2023
Production company profile
QČE is a newly-established production company of Nikola Ležaić, working on quirky feature and documentary films that don't fit any profile. When selecting potential projects, the company choses a lifeful mountain path instead of a safe freeway.
In the past 20 years, NUKLEUS has become a regional production company whose films crossed the regional borders, and were shown at important festivals such as Cannes, Berlin and Sundance and TV stations such as ARTE, WDR and HBO. Nukleus is a member/participant of the European Film Academy, ACE Producers Network, Inside Pictures, EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), as well as a regular attendant of the co-production and pitching forums. We attended training programs such as EAVE, EAVE+, Producers on the Move, ACE Producers Network, Producers Lab Toronto and Torino Film Lab.