Director, writer and producer Karla Lulić presented to the media her short film Following…, which will be screened at the Arena this evening.
As she said, it is an apocalyptic story taking place in Zagreb, and it speaks about the shortage of water. “We had been working on the film from 2008, and it turned out to be a prophecy, as Zagreb has survived a pandemic and n earthquake”, said Lucić and emphasised that the film is an independent film and has only just now been released, as it turns out, at the right moment.
The film, she said, is a reflection of our reality, isolation, loneliness, and begs the question: What actually makes us people?
The film was made with the help of the partner - production company Dobar film, and co-producers - Interfilm, who have lent the equipment, and Poster Hrvatska, who have done the special effects, while the sales agent is the distributor Mailuki Films from Spain.
Helena Buljan, who plays the role of the second old woman, emphasised how pleased she was to worked on this film with three actresses: Antonija Čutić, Asja Jovanović and Milka Podrug Kokotović, because, at their age, they have been out of work for too long.
Buljan says it was an inspiration to act with no dialogue, because she had to use her facial expressions to say what is not said in words. “We had to be serious, but in the end be funny”, she said and added she thinks the the film will be received well by the audience.
Antonija Čutić, who plays the role of the third old woman, says they had to argue, fight, and chase the stubborn cat during filming. “We really are old women, not old ladies. And I’m glad that we are old women in this film”, she said.
Ivana Pralija was in charge of make-up: “As a makeup artist, my role is to draw the characters, but in such a way so as not to do too much and for the make-up to be in the service of the actors”, she said. She added that she first needed to find the personality of the actors and actresses and then proceed with make-up.
At the end of the press conference, Lulić emphasised that this film has helped her learn how to say a lot through the visual, with not much dialogue. The writer/director has already received approval for her screenplay for a feature film, and is preparing another short film with the support of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre.
