Can the collapsing film sets reveal something about the collapse of the scenography we were living in? How many layers of understanding are contained in the untold stories of those working on films during the Tito’s time? Can the story of the rise and fall of Yugoslav cinematography help explain the unity and breakup of Yugoslavia? Cinema Komunisto takes us on a journey through the crumbling remains of Tito’s film industry exploring the rise and fall of the cinematic illusion called Yugoslavia. Using rare footage from dozens of forgotten Yugoslav films, as well as never-seen-before archive from film sets and Tito’s private screenings, the documentary recreates the narrative of a Country, the stories told on screen and the ones hidden behind it. Stars such as Richard Burton, Sofia Loren and Orson Welles add a touch of glamour to the national effort, appearing in super-productions financed by the State. Tito’s personal projectionist who showed him films every night for 30 years, his favourite film director, the most famous actor of partisan films, and the boss of the central film studios with secret police links – all tell how the history of Yugoslavia was constructed on the screen.
Production notes