Three
Croatian activists struggle to change the world. As children, they
lived through the violent collapse of Yugoslavia. But now, amid the
aftershocks of socialism's failure, they fight in their own way for a
new leftism. In the middle of the struggle, a skeptical American is won
over by their cause and even goes to jail with them. The activists,
whether clashing with police or squatting in an old factory, risk
everything to live their politics. But as the setbacks mount, will they
give up the fight? The
film, shot during years of fieldwork with a Croatian anarchist
collective, applies a unique blend of observation, direct participation
and critical reflection to this misunderstood political movement. Its
portrayal of activism is both empathetic and unflinching — an engaged,
elegant meditation on the struggle to re-imagine leftist politics and
the power of a country's youth.
Maple Rasza, Pacho Velez,
Maple Razsa Maple Razsais
an anthropologist, activist and documentary filmmaker. He is committed
to using text, images and sound to embody the experience and political
imagination of contemporary social movements. Currently an Assistant
Professor of Global Studies at Colby College, Maine, USA.
Pacho Velez Pacho
Velez is interested in personal stories that help to illuminate greater
political issues. He is proud to have worked for the Service Employees
International Union, for whom he co-directed a documentary about service
workers at Harvard. His films have screened at Silverdocs, the RIFF,
and the Telluride Indiefest. In 2010, he graduated from CalArts with a
MFA in Film / Video and began to teach at Harvard University.