Krsto Papić (7 December 1933 – 7 February 2013) was a Croatian screenwriter and film director whose career spanned over five decades. He is generally considered among the best directors of former

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

, and counted among the Yugoslav Black Wave.

Biography

Papić was born in Vučji Do, near

Nikšić Nikšić (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Никшић, ), is the second largest city in Montenegro, with a total population of 32,046 (2023 census) located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot of Trebjesa ...

in today's

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

. His early feature films and documentaries were part of Croatian and Yugoslav New Cinema, and often regarded as Croatian echo of the Black Wave artistic movement that mostly took place within Serbia. Additionally, Papić himself was connected to the

Croatian Spring The Croatian Spring (), or Maspok, was a political conflict that took place from 1967 to 1971 in the Socialist Republic of Croatia, at the time part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. As one of six republics comprising Yugoslavi ...

political movement during the early 1970s. He was the member of the

Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...

filmophile circle influenced by the French New Wave, so-called " Hitchcockians", along with film-makers and critics Ante Peterlić, Zoran Tadić, Branko Ivanda, Petar Krelja and centered on film critics Vladimir Vuković and Hrvoje Lisinski. Papić's two best-known early feature films, '' Lisice'' and ''Predstava Hamleta u Mrduši Donjoj'', were often attacked from the government sources. ''Lisice'' did not get permission to represent Yugoslavia in the Cannes Film Festival, so it entered the Quinzaine program in 1970. '' Izbavitelj'' was heavily criticised by Stipe Šuvar, who alluded that film's allegory about

fascism Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hie ...

actually also refers to the

communism Communism () is a political sociology, sociopolitical, political philosophy, philosophical, and economic ideology, economic ideology within the history of socialism, socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a ...

. Papić's subsequent feature films were more classical in their narration, but again politically controversial. Particularly '' My Uncle's Legacy'', a critical film about

's political situation under

Titoism Titoism is a Types of socialism, socialist political philosophy most closely associated with Josip Broz Tito and refers to the ideology and policies of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia (LCY) during the Cold War. It is characterized by a br ...

during

Informbiro period The Informbiro period was an era of Yugoslavia's history following the Tito–Stalin split in mid-1948 that lasted until the country's partial rapprochement with the Soviet Union in 1955 with the signing of the Belgrade declaration. After ...

, (nominated for the

Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...

in 1989) was surrounded by controversy and political attacks from traditional Party circles and especially Partisan Veterans' organisations, leading to a delay of production. Papić was awarded with Croatia's highest

Vladimir Nazor Award The Vladimir Nazor Award () is a Croatian prize for arts and culture established in 1959, and awarded every year by the country's Ministry of Culture. Named after the writer Vladimir Nazor (1876–1949), the prize is awarded to Croatian artists ...

for live achievement in cinema in 2006, and with Grand Prix Special des Amériques (for exceptional contribution to the cinematographic art) in 2004. He died in Zagreb on 7 February 2013 after a battle with

stomach cancer Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a malignant tumor of the stomach. It is a cancer that develops in the Gastric mucosa, lining of the stomach. Most cases of stomach cancers are gastric carcinomas, which can be divided into a numb ...

, aged 79.

Filmography

*1965 – '' The Key'' (''Ključ'') – An omnibus film with sections directed by Vanča Kljaković, Krsto Papić and Antun Vrdoljak; Papić's segment is titled ''Waiting'' (''Čekati''). *1967 – ''

Illusion An illusion is a distortion of the senses, which can reveal how the mind normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. Although illusions distort the human perception of reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may ...

'' (''Iluzija'') *1969 – ''

Handcuffs Handcuffs are Physical restraint, restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists in proximity to each other. They comprise two parts, linked together by a Link chain, chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each cuff has a rotating arm whi ...

'' (''Lisice'') – entered Quinzaine *1973 – ''

A Performance of Hamlet in the Village of Mrdusa Donja A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient ...

'' (''Predstava Hamleta u selu Mrduša Donja'' – entered official selection of the Berlin Film Festival *1976 – ''

The Rat Savior ''The Rat Saviour'' () or ''The Redeemer'' is a 1976 Croatian fantasy horror film directed by Krsto Papić. It was awarded as the best film at the 1977 International Science Fiction Film Festival in Trieste, the 1980 Paris International Festiv ...

'' (''Izbavitelj'') – also known as "The Redeemer" - first prize at the Trieste International Science Fiction Film Festival in 1977 and at

Fantasporto Fantasporto International Film Festival (Portuguese: Festival Internacional de Cinema do Porto) is an international genre film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Screening and awarding fantasy, sci-fi and horror orient ...

in 1982 *1980 – '' The Secret of Nikola Tesla'' (''Tajna Nikole Tesle'') – in English language *1988 – '' My Uncle's Legacy'' (''Život sa stricem'') – nominated for the Golden Globe Award (Best Foreign Language Film) *1991 – '' Story from Croatia'' (''Priča iz Hrvatske'') – also known under distributor's title ''Idaho Potato'' *1999 – '' When the Dead Start Singing'' (''Kad mrtvi zapjevaju'') *2003 – ''

Infection An infection is the invasion of tissue (biology), tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host (biology), host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmis ...

'' (''Infekcija'') – remake of ''The Redeemer'' *2012– '' Flower Square'' (''Cvjetni trg'')

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Papic, Krsto 1933 births 2013 deaths Montenegrin film directors Croatian film directors Vladimir Nazor Award winners Golden Arena for Best Director winners People from Nikšić Yugoslav film directors Deaths from stomach cancer Deaths from cancer in Croatia Croatian documentary filmmakers Burials at Mirogoj Cemetery