“The Great Water” is an unusually ambitious film from a country not ordinarily thought of as a filmmaking center. Even when it falters, it fascinates.
“The Great Water” comes from Macedonia, one of the countries that made up the former Yugoslavia. Like Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and its other ex-Yugoslavian neighbors, Macedonia is a country struggling to come to terms with its past, trying to tell cinematic stories that illuminate issues that still bedevil it.
The period “The Great Water” deals with is a specific and potent one: the brief years just after the Second World War, when Marshal Tito tried to turn Yugoslavia into a rigid Soviet state before finally breaking with Stalin.
It’s a realistic parable told with some of the surreal sensibility that marks the work of fellow former Yugoslavian Emir Kusturica. “The Great Water” introduces us to prominent Macedonian politician Lem Nikodinoski (Meto Jovanovski) as he is being rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. As he fights for his life, Lem flashes back to his childhood self (played by Saso Kekenovski) and the time he spent in an orphanage in summer 1945.
As run by the bluff Ariton (Mitko Apostolovski) and his comely second in command, Olivera (Verica Nedeska), this former factory was actually more of an indoctrination center intent on turning children of enemies of the state into zealous young communists.
The camp is initially presented as a chaotic, sadistic place. Young Lem is treated abysmally and tries to find his footing among adults, notably Olivera, who worship Stalin. Everything changes, however, when the slightly older Isak (Maja Stankovska) is brought to the camp. Unruffled, charismatic, untouched by the horrors that surround him, Isak comes across as a combination of devil, Christian saint and model citizen. His allegorical presence changes everything about the camp and Lem’s life there.
The film’s work with child actors is especially good (thanks to Mykola Heyko, of “Kolya”), but its decision to have old Lem read his extensive voice-over in English feels contrived.
*** | “The Great Water”
NOT RATED|1 hour, 30 minutes|DRAMA|Directed by Ivo Trajkov; based on the novel by Zhivko Chingo; written by Vladimir Blazevski and Trajkov; in English and Macedonian with English subtitles; photography by Suki Medencevic; starring Saso Kekenovski, Maja Stankovska, Mitko Apostolovski, Verica Nedeska, Risto Gogovski |Opens today at the Regency Theaters at Tamarac.
