PULA FILM FESTIVAL: A FIREWORKS OF STARS

The Art Press Caravan is again in Pula, where on Saturday, 18 July, the 62nd Pula Film Festival was ceremonially opened. To Branko Lustig, the producer of the films Schindler’s List and Gladiator, who 20 years ago won the prestigious Golden Arena, fell the honour of officially opening the festival. Branko Schmidt’s film “The Names of the Cherry” was the first to bring the silver screen to life in the legendary Pula Arena. Before 12,000 people, as many as came to celebrate the start of yet another film festival, the charismatic Oliver Mlakar, with his hosting skill, commanded the scene. Ennobling the introductory programme just before the start of the festival, he spontaneously and engagingly announced distinguished figures from the world of film and from the Croatian state establishment. With a play on words he recalled the eighties of the last century, when Kviskoteka, a quiz that entered the annals, was the most-watched show of the former Yugoslavia. It is interesting that two Brankos, alongside one Oliver, marked the start of the festival. Still, two other oddities left the strongest impression: the fireworks and the late Josip Broz Tito. They drew out the longest and most serious spontaneous applause on the open stage of the packed Pula arena.

How to explain it? During the screening of a documentary film about Pula and the history of the Pula festival, in one part of the film Josip Broz appeared in a white suit, strolling across the Brijuni islands. At that moment, frenetic applause broke out across the Pula arena, accompanied by joyful exclamations. The cheering for the former president is a sincere indicator of present feelings that the visitors did not conceal. Palms tingled because of Tito and because of the fireworks. The audience rapturously watched the starry sky above the arena, which was streaked with a palette of various colours. The loud sighs of admiration left by this unrepeatable visual experience were complemented by strong sonic blasts. As if the sky were being torn apart in the illuminated starry night. Only fireworks can do that.

At the moment when the fireworks fell silent, the audience too quieted down. The first film of the festival followed. The adornment of the festival’s opening programme was the ceremonial red carpet, which symbolically announced, and then welcomed, renowned figures from the world of film and from all social spheres. The appearance and the walk along the ceremonial carpet had a specific weight even for those already crowned with fame. It was seen by the radiance of their faces. As the red carpet itself somehow captivates, so all the guests who that evening had the honour of walking along it, to the sounds of fanfares, also contributed to the beauty of the event at this beautiful festival, which has lasted for 62 years and will continue to last.