Gori Vatra - Fuse!

in general Feature Film, A I BiH I Turkey I FR2003
Genre Black Comedy
length 105 Min
Original version Serbo-croatian, English

A production of Refresh Productions Sarajevo
In Co-prodcution with Novotny & Novotny Filmproduktion (A), RTV FBIH Bosnia Heregovina (BiH), Istanbul Filmservice (Turkey), Cine Sud Promotion (FR)

With financial support of
Filmfonds Wien, Minitardtvo kulture i sporta kantona sarajevo, Fondacija za kinematografiju FBHI, Fonds sud cinema, Ministère des affairs étrangères, Ministère de la culture, Fondacione montecinema varità locarno, The hubert bals fund of international film festival rotterdam, Uprava grada sarajeva, JP BH telecom, The delegation of the European commision to BiH

Synopsis

Fuse (Gori Vatra) is a tale of a family collapsing and of post-war reality. Tale of the miracle of people who are ready to stand everything, who remain hopeful and who decide to struggle to live better. Tesanj: a small picturesque Bosnian town.

On the surface – good, open people, humble and decent lives, a market place, tradition and neighbourhood.
Under the surface – ethnic intolerance, crime, prostitution and total corruption.
Suddenly, the news that the US President Clinton is coming to visit the town soon and that he is willing to accept the “honour” of becoming citizen and the “godfather” of their municipality. It all seems to be a clear indication of the better times coming, the days of welfare, progress, happiness and prosperity. But this must be earned somehow: in seven days all that what has not been good – crime, corruption and ethnic intolerance – must simply be perished.

Tragic-comic reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina is shown, two years after the war. Under the supervision and with wholehearted assistance of the international community observers a frenzied race with time starts in an attempt to build democracy in seven days. In this race the whole town goes completely crazy…

AWARDS

• 
Silberner Leopard (56. Filmfestival Locarno)
• 3. Preis der Junior Jury (56. Filmfestival Locarno)
• Special Mention CICAE/ARTE (56. Filmfestival Locarno)
• Best Feature Film in the Regional Programme - Agnes b. (9th Sarajevo International Film Festival)
• Best Feature Film in the Regional Programme - Public Broadcasting BH (9th Sarajevo International Film Festival)
• Best Feature Film in Open Air Cinema (9th Sarajevo International Film Festival)
• Best Bosnian Feature Film (9th Sarajevo International Film Festival)
• Best Bosnian Director (9th Sarajevo International Film Festival)
• Best Bosnian Cinematographer (9th Sarajevo International Film Festival)
• Best First Feature Film (Bosnia Film Festival, Sarajevo 2003)
• Best Director (Bosnia Film Festival, Sarajevo 2003)
• Best Cinematographer
• Award for Best Feature Film (11th Raindance Film Festival)
• Golden Star for Best Film and Best Actor (3. Festival Int. du Film de Marrakesch)
• Special Jury Award (1st Zagreb Film Festival)
• Technical Support and Students Award (25th Int. Mediterranean FF Montpellier)
• Best Actor (23rd Festival International du Film d'Amiens)
• Best Actor (Arte Mare, Festival des cultures en méditerranée Bastia)
• The Viewers Award (5th Bratislava International Film Festival)
• Prix Fassbinder Special Mention (European Film Academy)