Direction: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
Country: Croatia
Murina is a fish, also known as Mediterranean moray, that commonly bites its own flesh in a desperate attempt to set itself free from the fishermen’s hooks. The parallel with the 16-year-old Julija, the main character of this tense psychological Croatian drama filled with toxic masculinity and an urge for freedom, is blatant.
Julija (Gracija Filipović) lives with her rude, authoritarian father, Ante (Leon Lucev), and disenchanted mother, Nela (Danica Curcic), on a small island in Croatia, a deceiving paradise where the summer heat is part of the uncomfortable setting. The arrival of Javi (New Zealander Cliff Curtis), a wealthy foreigner and friend of the family, not only awakens her rebellious and femininity sides but also makes her fight fiercely for her unvoiced dreams.
Whereas the moody father is a punisher whose rudeness and aggressiveness is far greater than his care for the family, the visitor’s cultivation offers a different vision of life, an unthinkable hope, and a new meaning in terms of human relationships. Humiliation and desperate situations lead to desperate measures and, therefore, confrontation is inevitable.
With the clear and crisp tone evinced here, it’s clear that director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic is a force to follow. This solid first feature, based on her 2017 short film Into the Blue, was executive produced by Martin Scorsese and was crowned with the Camera D’Or at Cannes. In conclusion, Murina is an impressive story of emancipation carried by convincing performances and well-drawn characters that bring authenticity to it.
