When Father Was Away on Business (1985)
2h 16m | PG-13
Tito's break-up with Stalin in 1948 marked the beginning of not only confusing, but also very dangerous, years for many hard-core Yugoslav communists. A careless remark about the newspaper cartoon is enough for Mesha to join many arrested unfortunates. His family is now forced to cope with the situation and wait for his release from prison.
Director: Emir Kusturica
Studio: Forum Sarajevo
Genre: Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
Moreno de Bartoli
as Malik
Miki Manojlović
as Mehmed 'Meša' Zolj, otac
Mirjana Karanović
as Senija 'Sena' Zolj, majka
Mustafa Nadarević
as Zijah 'Zijo' Zulfikarpašić
Mira Furlan
as Ankica Vidmar
Predrag Laković
as Kućepazitelj Franjo
Reviews
Emir Kusturica's When Father Was Away on Business is a courageous, funny, and deeply moving film that blends comedy, family drama, and political realism. The title refers to the lie a family tells a six-year-old boy to explain his father's imprisonment in a labor camp for a thoughtless remark that offended Communist officials. It won the Palme d'Or at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.