The Tower of Strength, feature film / INTRODUCTORY PREMISES
The Term of SACRIFICE: the issue of collective vs. personal interest
Running time: 97 min; Montenegro/Serbia/Germany/Croatia
LOG LINE
A persecuted child finds shelter in the house of the enemy.
The host faces an awestruck choice: to save the child’s life and his own integrity
– or risk losing his family to a group of armed kinsmen.
Film genre: Suspense drama with a historical background, Eastern (Balkan Western).
The Tower of Strength / SYNOPSIS
World War II is underway in Yugoslavia. A young child, fleeing from the fascist unit that killed their parents and burned their village, finds temporary refuge in the home of a stranger—an Albanian man named Nur Doka.
A significant difference between them becomes evident: the child is Christian, while Nur is Muslim. In wartime Yugoslavia, this fact often marked the line between life and death.
Nur, the head of the household, faces a profound moral dilemma as his home comes under intense siege by fascist forces. He must choose whether to:
– Hand over the child to the persecutors, thereby compromising his deeply held beliefs and family code, or
– Endanger his own family’s safety in a desperate, possibly futile attempt to save a young foreigner of a different religion and nationality.
When Nur exhausts all options, he’s confronted with a choice that will not only test his principles but also shape his legacy. And the question remains: WHAT WILL NUR DO?
*Set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II, this film unfolds over 36 intense hours along the Montenegrin border in Yugoslavia. Through the journey of one individual daring to stand against the might of the stronger, this film ignites reflection and inspires change. In a world where warring factions still push relentlessly toward mutual destruction, this story is a powerful reminder that humanity is our ultimate victory over violence and ruin. In times of war, being human is our most vital mission. IN TIMES OF WAR, HUMANITY MATTERS MORE THAN EVER!
Excerpts from reviews
The Cairo Film Festival welcomed the film ‘The Tower of Strength’ with great ecstasy. Eco del Cinema – Italia
Nikola Vukčević, with his latest work, managed to create a suspense-packed genre film rich in fantasy – at times horror-like – motifs, superlative landscape shots and characters that would be a match for THE LORD OF THE RINGS’. Bernd Buder, Cottbus film festival, Germany
‘The Tower of Strength’ at the Cairo Film Festival celebrates honor and humanity as a response to violence. Il Messaggero – Italia
It is a gripping historical drama rich in elements of fantasy, reflecting the conflict between humanity and brutality, as well as between courage and fear. Yet, universal human values transcend the deepest differences, and Vukčević’s ‘The Tower of Strength’ transforms into a story of sacrifice and a prayer for peace in its profound depth. Politika, Serbia
The Tower of Strength’ is a tight piece of cinema that evokes the traditional genres of a war movie and a western, without ever over-using the genre approach to the detriment of the drama at the film’s core. Cineuropa
Nikola Vukčević manages to maintain the film’s pace while also having the opportunity to explore all the existential and philosophical questions it leaves open. This film is an experience that demonstrates that humanity, as a symbol of victory over violence and destruction, becomes more important than ever, especially when faced with the fate of war. FIPRESCI critic, Zein Alabedin Khairy
November 2024 – Cairo, Cottbus, Goa: The Grand Opening of our Film’s Festival Journey
Set to embark on its festival journey in November 2024, OBRAZ made its domestic and world premiere at the Cottbus Film Festival, one of the most respected platforms for Eastern European cinema, in co-producing Germany. Shortly after, the film’s international premiere took place at ‘A list’ festival – the esteemed Cairo International Film Festival — one of only 15 competitive feature film festivals worldwide accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), the oldest, the greatest and only internationally accredited annually running film festival in the Arab world, Africa and the Middle East. Concluding November, OBRAZ made its Asia premiere at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI-Goa), Asia’s largest and most prestigious film festival, also on ‘A list’ by FIAPF. These esteemed selections mark a promising start for OBRAZ and reflect the film’s powerful narrative and cinematic resonance across borders. In the meantime, the film has been selected and presented at Dhaka IFF, Jaipur IFF (where it won the Best Cinematography award), Sofia IFF, and is currently screening in Zaragoza, Spain. It will also be featured in Hungary at a festival honoring the great Vilmos Zsigmond. We would be delighted to see your festival added to this list as well.
More details https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13983826/
Bernd Buder: A historical fantasy film complete with a humanistic message
Bernd Buder, a former member of the selection team for the Berlin International Film Festival and currently the Program Director of the Cottbus Film Festival, wrote in the festival catalog: In a predominantly Albanian region of Montenegro, two families bury a decades-old blood feud shortly before the German invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941. The peace doesn’t endure for long, however. Doka, who feels bound by the Kanun code of honour, and his former enemy Gjonaj find themselves on different sides of history after Gjonaj joins the SS division “Skanderbeg”. Gjonaj also feels a stronger sense of obligation towards the Albanian tradition of the Kanun than to his oath to the “Third Reich”: when a Montenegrin Christian boy being pursued by troops under his command finds refuge in Doka’s house, he protects him in line with the Besa code of honour, the Albanian tradition according to which guests of a house are to be protected from enemies. Nikola Vukčević, succeeds here with his most recent work in creating a suspense-packed genre film rich in fantasy – at times horror-like – motifs, superlative landscape shots and characters that would be a match for THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
DIRECTOR’ NOTE:
Imagine a powerful collaboration between Jews and Palestinians – together making a movie about how to rise above nation/religion and be human? Can you imagine a few Russians and Ukrainians, Indians and Pakistanis, North and South Koreans, Turks and Greeks, making a movie that showcases how we can transcend the boundaries of nation and religion and unite as human beings? Despite centuries of bloodshed, a few brave individuals from opposing sides come together to create a cinematic story that offers hope for a better future.
My ancestors and the ancestors of the actors in my film – they looked at each other through the sights of a rifle for a long time, and those wounds still run deep and much alive today, both within them and within us.
This is why my upcoming film, which features a Muslim hero who sacrifices everything to save an innocent Christian child, is more than just a work of art. It’s a powerful reminder that universal human values can overcome even the most entrenched differences.
The story is set in the Balkan region, but its message is universal. It’s an ode to humanity, a prayer for peace, and a poignant tale of sacrifice and values that we all need. By rising above our small human determinations, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this groundbreaking project.
PRODUCERS NOTE:
Can you imagine a powerful collaboration – between Jews and Palestinians, coming together to make a movie about transcending national and religious boundaries and embracing our shared humanity? Can you envision Russians and Ukrainians, Indians and Pakistanis, North and South Koreans, Turks and Greeks, as well as Albanians from Kosovo and Serbs and Montenegrins, joining forces to create a film that showcases how we can unite as human beings?
In this case, it is Albanians from Kosovo, and Serbs and Montenegrins who have collaborated to bring this film to life. Our ancestors viewed each other through the sights of rifles for decades, and in Kosovo, killings and insecurity continue to occur on a daily basis. The scars of those wounds are still present today, both within them and within us. That is why our upcoming film, featuring a Muslim hero who selflessly sacrifices everything to save an innocent Christian child, holds a deeper significance beyond being a mere work of art. It serves as a powerful reminder that universal human values can triumph over even the most deeply entrenched differences.
IN TIMES OF WAR, HUMANITY MATTERS MORE THAN EVER!
Production: Galileo production Montenegro, in association with: Cinnamon Beograd, Progressive films NU
Support: Film centre Montenegro, Film centre Serbia, Montengrin Ministry of culture, CEKUM Podgorica, City of Bar
Feature film
THE TOWER OF STRENGTH
Film director
Nikola Vukcevic
Scriptwriters
Ana Vujadinović
Melina Pota
Script associate
Nikola Vukčević
Script doctors
David Pope
MIDPOINT
Andrea Magnani
ALBSCRIPT+
The script was created by the adaptation of the motifs from the story of the FACE OF HONOUR, written by academic Zuvdija Hodžić
Film producers:
Nikola Vukcevic
Milorad Radenovic
Co-producers:
Ivica Vidanovic
Nevena Savic
Executive producers:
Milorad Radenovic
Jelena Filipovic
Production coordinator: Nikola Čavor
DoP: Djordje Stojiljkovic, costume: Lidija Jovanovic, scenography: Stanislav Nikicevic, mask: Natasa Sevcnikar, sound: Igor Vujovic, Djoko Jablan, editing: Olga Toni.