Original title: The Service
Language: Serbian
Subtitles: Serbian (latin), English, Russian
Genre: short film/ drama
Duration: 30 minutes
Color: color
Format: DCP
Resolution: 2k
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 (16:9)
Frame rate: 25
Sound: 5.1
Premiere: 23.4.2024.
Production companies: Spas, Ison film, Archangel digital
Producers: Andrej Sepetkovski (Spas), Djordje Kreca, Petar Arsic, Boris Lukman, Andrej Lukman (Ison fim) Milos Bikovic, Tatjana Zezelj Gojkovic (Archangel digital)
Co-producers: Ivica Vidanovic, Nevena Savic (Cinamon), Miroslav Mogorovic, Stefan Mladenovic ( Art&popcorn)
Director: Andrej Sepetkovski
Writer: Andrej Sepetkovski
Collaborating writer: Katrin Sepetkovski
Director of photography: Goran Volarevic
Editor: Vladimir Radovanovic
Set designer: Aljosa Spajic
Costume designer: Momirka Bailovic
Sound recorder: Novica Jankov
Sound designer and mixer: Sasa Mirosavljevic-Don
Makeup artist: Dubravka Busatlija
Cast:
Vesna Trivalic (Mother Serafima), Mladen Nelevic (Pavle), Djordje Kreca (Miljan)
Julija Petkovic (Sister Jefimija), Larisa Sepetkovski (Girl), Viktor Sepetkovski (Boy)
LOGLINE
In the 1960s, in Yugoslavia, two members of the national security services arrive to an impoverished, remote female monastery, to find a suspected monk.
SYNOPSIS
Investigating the threat of a coup in the mid-sixties, two members of the national security services arrive to an impoverished, remote female monastery, located in the mountain wilderness.
They heard that the sisterhood were concealing the lead suspect, hieromonk Damaskin.
The nuns welcome them warmly and hospitably.
The inspectors question the Abbess, Mother Serafima, who puzzles them and disarms them with her calmness and love…
The older and younger inspectors, each in their own way, are combating both the environment they found themselves in, and themselves. On the other hand, mother Serafima faces unexpected temptations originating from the life she had left behind.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Even though the film’s title “The Service” can be associated with strictness, slavery, and obligation, it actually has a double meaning. It can also be liberating, depending on what or whom one is in service to . This is a love film in its very essence. We are alive when we love and give, and we love when we are drinking from the source of Love.
It’s a story about an encounter, about trust in human goodness and in the possibility of everyone’s transformation for the better. Only such an encounter makes sense and is joyous, which is actually the same thing. Incessant is our cry for inner freedom and childlike joy, where all constraints of space and time and all worries are lost. It takes so little for that cry to be answered and transformed into a shout of joy.
ANDREJ SEPETKOVSKI, director and screenwriter
Andrej Sepetkovski was born in 1974. He graduated in acting from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade in 1998 as the top student of this generation.
He has performed in over 50 roles in the biggest theaters in Serbia. Also, he has played significant roles in 20 films and in over 30 tv series.
Additionally, he wrote six plays, three of which saw performances in Belgrade, and directed two of them. Further, he wrote the scripts for two TV series and four movies.
He is the author and screenwriter of the series "Walking with a Lion" produced by Telekom, ( winner of the "Golden Antenna" award for the best creator at the FEDIS festival in 2023, acquired by HBO) and the screenwriter of the film "The World is beautiful" (Audience Award, Film Script Festival 2022, Vrnjacka Banja).
Production contact: Spas, spasprodukcija@gmail.com
IMDB LINK: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt32204246/?ref_=m_ttfcd_tt
TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/938092929
