Cannes Winner Captures Coming-Of-Age Angst

A blossoming Croatian teenager chafes under her stern and abusive father on the beautiful but murky Adriatic Sea. Murina enthralls with simmering tensions that purposely cloud the narrative’s direction. What begins as an absorbing family drama twists and turns as different motivations come into question. The film blurs lines as it straddles the protagonist’s sexual awakening with a desperate need for escape at any cost. Murina’s stunning cinematography aids the opaque nature of the plot. You’re left guessing until the very end for a dark or enlightened resolve.

Seventeen-year-old Julija (Gracija Filipović) spearfishes with her father, Ante (Leon Lučev). They are hunting murina, Croatian for moray eel, hidden in rocky crevices on the ocean floor. Ante yells at Julija to wash the deck chairs as they prepare for an important guest. Julija stares wistfully at a group of people frolicking on a nearby yacht. Her gorgeous and thin mother, Nela (Danica Curcic), nervously tries on multiple dresses. Ante berates Julija again for her form-fitting swimsuit. He wants mother and daughter looking their best for a life-changing opportunity.

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The handsome and wealthy Javier (Cliff Curtis) arrives with a contingent of tourists. Ante and Nela’s former boss sparkles with the glow of an important man. Julija is instantly smitten by his confident and charming demeanor. She notices that Javier can’t tear his eyes away from her mother. Ante hopes to sell their land, and those of the adjoining villagers, to Javier. He believes their Adriatic location would be ideal for a luxury resort. Ante invites Javier to stay for further discussions. His calming presence draws a distinct comparison to the vulgar Ante. Who’s not blind to the fact that Julija and Nela are captivated by Javier.

Best Debut Feature at 2021 Cannes Film Festival

Director/writer Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović won the prestigious Caméra d’Or for best debut feature at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. She captures the bitter angst of a young woman trapped in a supposed paradise. Julija’s picturesque home is a prison without walls. Ante commands her and Nela like a general. They both live in fear of his anger. Nela hopes that selling to Javier will make Ante a better man. Julija believes the money will make a bad situation worse. Ante crudely belittles his daughter. He knows she’s intelligent, attractive, and capable; but refuses to give her any of freedom. His constant oppression leads Julija to a dangerous place.

Julija, Nela, and Javier have intriguing relationship dynamics. What is Javier’s agenda? Does he really have an interest in the property, or is he seeking something else? Julija cannot help but be taken by Javier’s personality. He’s everything her father isn’t. Nela warns Julija to be careful in her fawning. Yet she’s also clearly in the sights of the handsome interloper. Mother and daughter are forced into an uncomfortable reckoning. Murina strays into thorny territory with its exploration of competing desires.

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Confinement and Liberation

Sikelia Productions

Kusijanović uses the depths of the Adriatic to symbolically represent confinement and liberation. She shoots lingering scenes of the characters piercing the inky blue. Julija despises fishing for eels with her father but loves to swim and dive. The water acts as a medium that encompasses her dreams and sorrows. It’s a poetic thread that’s skillfully pulled through the film.

Julija’s bold actions, or lack thereof, decides her path forward. The film builds to two pivotal, heart-stopping moments. I applaud Kusijanović for a riveting and thoughtful outcome. Murina earns its international acclaim.

Murina has Croatian and English dialogue with subtitles. Sikelia Productions and RT Features lead a production consortium. Murina opens at the Metrograph in New York City on Friday, July 8th and in Los Angeles at Laemmle Theatres on Friday, July 15th with a rollout to select cities.

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