What’s To Be Done
Date:
January 12, 2023
What’s To Be Done
Logline
“What’s to be Done?” is a powerful documentary film that follows the struggle of union members at a rolling stock company in Eastern Europe as they fight to protect their jobs and livelihoods in the face of rapid economic and societal change.
Synopsis
Željko is the head of the Union at a rolling stock company. His deputy committed suicide after the large public protest. Željko is torn between the guilt he feels because of his friend’s death and the expectation of his fellow workers to lead a strike that should thwart the government’s plans to send the company to bankruptcy. This is a paradigmatic story of Eastern Europe. It chronicles the fight of the workers who became losers of the transition. Active in dismantling the communism, they failed to adapt to the ways of the new society. At its heart, “What’s to be Done?” is a film about fighters and workers, dreamers and revolutionaries, union leaders and trustees in bankruptcy. It is a powerful and moving testament to the struggles of ordinary people as they seek to make their way in a rapidly changing world.For a decade now, this film has followed the struggle of the union members, standing a witness to the world of work disappearing in front of the camera.
Director’s Profile
Goran Dević is a highly respected Croatian film director and screenwriter known for his powerful and thought-provoking work in both documentary and fiction films. Born in Sisak in 1971, Dević studied Archeology and Law before earning his degree in Film and TV Directing from the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2008. He has since garnered numerous awards for his work, including the Golden Arena for Best Film at the Pula Film Festival for his feature film debut “The Blacks”.
In addition to his successful career as a filmmaker, Dević also works as a professor at the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he teaches courses on screenwriting and film directing. His work has been widely recognized and celebrated, with retrospectives of his documentaries being screened at prestigious venues such as Arsenal Berlin, MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts Roma, and the Crossing Europe Film Festival in Linz. Overall, Goran Dević is a talented and accomplished filmmaker with a strong reputation for producing thought-provoking and impactful work.
Company Profile
15th Art Productions (Petnaesta umjetnost) is a film and television production company based in Zagreb, Croatia. Founded in 2007 by director Goran Dević and producer Hrvoje Osvadić, the company has a strong focus on producing documentaries and feature films with social themes. In recent years, the company has expanded to include fiction films in its portfolio.15th Art Productions has a diverse range of projects under its belt, with over 25 titles of documentaries and feature films to its credit, as well as a 12-part documentary TV series for Croatian national television. The company is dedicated to producing high-quality, thought-provoking content that resonates with audiences and makes a meaningful impact.