Ljubica Luković
RED WATER
In 1989 at the Croatian seaside, a family is shattered when their daughter disappears. Her dark secrets disintegrate the community over two decades until the return of the former investigator unveils the truth.
SYNOPSIS
September 1989. Gorki Sain, a bright, assertive inspector, grudgingly accepts a case in Misto, a small town on the Croatian coast: the disappearance of Silva Vela, a seventeen-year-old girl from a respected working-class family. Struggling under the weight of his famous last name, Gorki is not too enthused about revisiting a town that boasts a communist monument to the heroes of WWII, modelled after his father. In a serene community untouched by significant crime, the devastated family clings to the hope that Silva will return. With alarming evidence mounting, Gorki leads a systematic investigation. The last person to see Silva, Adrijan Lekaj, the baker’s son and Silva’s secret lover, insists she spoke of leaving town. Her boyfriend Brane, unaware she’d been seeing anyone else, has an alibi. The search intensifies when a large package of heroin is found hidden in the family home, revealing Silva’s secret life as a drug dealer. Gorki zeroes in on Mario Cvitkovic, a local mid-level dealer, though he lacks the proof to bring him in. Silva’s mother, Vesna, thinks the police are not doing enough and urges her husband and son to conduct an independent search. This produces no results but further deepens the rift in the community when the family questions Brane’s alibi. An anonymous tip leads to a bloodstained plank in Adrijan’s shed, but evidence remains thin. Mate, Silva’s twin brother, takes matters into his own hands, assaulting Adrijan in a desperate bid for answers. As the drums of war echo in the background, tensions boil in a poisoned community. Burdened by his father’s legacy and shifting political tides, Gorki fixates on solving the case to save his career. A new lead offers hope: Silva was seen at the bus station the day she disappeared. But hope fades as it’s confirmed she left voluntarily, and Mario finds a fresh start in the military, leaving Gorki back at square one. Under pressure, Gorki resigns and turns to commercial law, though the Velas refuse to give up. Now assured Silva is alive, Mate sacrifices his plans for the future to stay close to home. Many years later, Gorki returns to Misto as a lawyer, assisting an investment firm in the planning of a tourist complex. Vesna, now divorced and still holding fort in case Silva returns, angrily drives Gorki away. Mate has continued chasing leads and cold trails while his personal life suffers. Brane is sailing the far seas, having cut off contact with his father, whom he never forgave for doubting him. His mother wants to accept Gorki’s offer and leave at last, but Vesna’s refusal blocks the deal, causing strife in the blighted community. Worst of all, Gorki must collaborate with Mario, now a member of the local government and a key player in shady land deals. Gorki abandons the plans and shifts his company's focus to buy up a former military base instead, unaware that this will finally bring much-awaited closure to everyone.
CREATOR
Ljubica Luković
PRODUCER
Danijel Pek
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Antitalent
COUNTRY
Croatia
FORMAT
52' x 6
GENRE
Drama
Ljubica Luković
Ljubica Luković is a Cologne-based writer from Serbia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dramaturgy from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, and an MA in serial storytelling from the International Filmschool Cologne. AWAKE, a series she co-wrote, had its premiere at Canneseries in 2021, when it won the Audience Award. HOW I LEARNED TO FLY, her debut feature-length film, was released in 2022 and immediately shot to the top of the domestic box office. The film had its premiere at the BUFF International Film Festival and won the ECFA Award for Best European Feature for Children. She also wrote for the series BLOK 27, which is currently airing on Superstar TV in Serbia. Luković participated in the Torino Series Lab in 2019 with the dark comedy project OTTO IST TOT, developed with Odeon, and at the Cinekid Script Lab in 2020 with the adventure comedy OGRES AND BOGIES for Sense Production. She is currently developing several film and series projects for the German and Serbian markets.
CREATOR’S STATEMENT
When I first read the novel “Red Water” by Jurica Pavičić, I thought: “How is it possible nobody has made this into a show yet?” From the first word, I was hooked. I genuinely couldn’t tell if Silva was dead or alive; I lived through every emotion of uncertainty with the characters. Silva completely fascinated me. More than just a victim, she turned out to be a flawed character with a more prosperous and vivid life than anyone could imagine. And the devotion of her loved ones tells the reader everything they need to know: this was a girl who was impossible to forget. How does a character appearing merely for a page become one of the most memorable in recent literature? In adapting the novel, I am thankful for the emotionally charged plot that easily carries six episodes. Like MARE OF EASTTOWN or BROADCHURCH, it weaves a rich tapestry of lives affected by a disappearance. While the emphasis is not so much on the investigation, I want to make sure it’s the backbone of the series. I want to keep the audience guessing about possible suspects, but more about Silva's faith. As in the novel, I want each episode to make the viewer change their mind about whether Silva is dead or alive, perhaps several times. More than a police procedural, this series crafts a gripping mystery that captivates until the final reveal.
The most unique element and quality of this project is that it also tells the story of a country. Through the unexpected rise of Mario and the tragic fall of Gorki, we meditate on the destiny of a nation thrust into an existential crisis brought on by war. Some remained stuck in the past, while others adapted, for better or worse. This series offers a fresh and unique twist on a beloved genre. It portrays a different side of a popular tourist destination and gives a glimpse into the lives of those who live there even after the last seasonal plane takes off. Above all, it’s a rich and layered drama in which everyone will find something compelling.
Danijel Pek
Danijel Pek is a Croatian film and television producer. He studied political science and film production in Zagreb and has professional experience as a journalist and producer in television. In 2007, he founded production company Antitalent, which focuses on film, series, and online content, and is now one of the leading production houses in Croatia. He is a graduate of EAVE and EAVE+, and an alum of Producers on the Move, Berlinale Talents, and Talents Sarajevo. Films he produced have won the Palme d’Or and the Caméra d’Or at the Festival de Cannes, European Film Awards, and a number of other prizes worldwide. The short film he most recently produced was nominated for Academy and César Awards.
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
The quality of the novel “Red Water” by Jurica Pavičić lies in the author’s ability to lock the reader into the story, emotionally connected to the characters, while they are simultaneously part of a bigger story than just a whodunit. RED WATER is a crime story, but more a story about the fall of an ideal—of a country, of a community, of a family, and the personal fall of its hero. We were naturally drawn to it and acquired the rights because one of our company’s principles is to work with authors and projects that push boundaries and require audience engagement. We have no doubt this locally flavoured story can travel and reach an audience outside its home country.
We have set up the core creative team of young but well-established regional talent recognised internationally for their work by major series and film festivals. Writer Ljubica Luković has won the Canneseries Audience Award for her work on the series AWAKE. Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović won the Caméra d’Or at the Festival de Cannes for her feature film MURINA. We have confirmed the main role of the investigator. Gorki will be played by actor Goran Bogdan, who is known for his roles in the series THE LAST PANTHERS and the film FATHER, which won two prizes at the Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the Palme d’Or winner THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT. From Croatia, we are also bringing the regional broadcaster, United Media. We are looking for international partners with whom we can further co-develop and produce the series. The international success of the novel confirms our intuition that the French and German markets are where we might find those partners.
Production company profile
Antitalent is a Croatian production company specialising in short and feature-length films, television dramas, and documentary series. The company’s short film THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT won the Palme d’Or at the Festival de Cannes in 2024 and a European Film Award, and was nominated for César and Academy Awards. In 2023, the short film THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT THE FIGHT had its premiere in La Semaine de la Critique at Cannes, and in 2021, the feature-length film MURINA premiered in the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes, where it won the Caméra d’Or. In 2023, Antitalent completed THE HIGHLANDS, its first drama series, which was broadcast by the Croatian Public Broadcaster.
Where are we at?
ESTIMATED PRODUCTION BUDGET FOR THE FIRST SEASON
2.148.000 €
FINANCING IN PLACE
€28.000
Production timeline
Development and financing February 2024-July 2026
Pre-production July 2026-October 2026
Production November 2026-January 2027
Post-production November 2026-June 2027