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''The Marathon Family'' (, lit. ''Marathon Runners Do a Lap of Honour'', or often simply ''Maratonci'', lit. ''The Marathon Runners'') is a 1982 Yugoslav
black comedy film Black comedy, also known as black humor, bleak comedy, dark comedy, dark humor, gallows humor or morbid humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally ...
written by
Dušan Kovačević Dušan Kovačević ( sr-Cyrl, Душан Ковачевић, ; born 12 July 1948) is a Serbian playwright, scriptwriter, film director and academic best known for his theatre plays and movie scripts. He also served as the ambassador of Serbia in ...
and directed by
Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
n director
Slobodan Šijan Slobodan Šijan ( sr-Cyrl, Слободан Шијан, ; born 16 November 1946) is a Serbian film director. Biography Šijan was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921 ...
. It has become a
cult film A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated ...
in Serbia and other countries from the territory of the 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 is regarded as one of the classics of Yugoslav Serbian cinematography. The film depicts a family of
undertaker A funeral director, also known as an undertaker or mortician (American English), is a professional who has licenses in funeral arranging and embalming (or preparation of the deceased) involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks o ...
s with a dark secret. Instead of making coffins, they steal ones from graves in the cemetery. They are increasingly indebted to a local hoodlum for his services. Following the death of the head of the family, conflict begins between the family and the hoodlum. The youngest member of the family kills his cheating girlfriend in a jealous rage, and then claims the family's leadership for himself. His term in office starts with a brutal showdown with the hoodlum and a police chase.


Plot

The story takes place in an unnamed small Serbian town in 1935, and focuses on the Topalović family, consisting of six generations of
undertaker A funeral director, also known as an undertaker or mortician (American English), is a professional who has licenses in funeral arranging and embalming (or preparation of the deceased) involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks o ...
s: * gravely ill Pantelija, who founded the business a century ago, * Maksimilijan who uses a wheelchair, is mute and nearly deaf, * rheumatic Aksentije, * sober-minded Milutin, * impulsive and narcissistic Laki, and * young and naive Mirko. Constantly bickering, the latest family argument arises from the youngest son, Mirko, not wanting to continue the family business of coffin-making. Deeply in love with Kristina, the daughter of a local hoodlum, Bili Piton (Billy the Python), he's looking to avoid the career of his father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc. Though operating out of a prominently located shop in the town, the Topalovićs' business is mostly based on illegal activities. Instead of making coffins, they recycle used ones with the help of Piton, whose men have been digging them out from the local cemetery during the night for 20 years. The Topalovićs refurbish them and sell them as new, making a large profit given the minimal overhead. Although based on mutual financial interest, the relationship between the Topalovićs and Bili is deteriorating as they owe him money for his services and show little intention of paying him. In parallel, the Topalovićs are in the finishing stages of building a modern
crematorium A crematorium, crematory or cremation center is a venue for the cremation of the Death, dead. Modern crematoria contain at least one cremator (also known as a crematory, retort or cremation chamber), a purpose-built furnace. In some countries a ...
on which they are placing high hopes as the future source of income. One day, Pantelija dies and leaves the family inheritance to himself because he does not trust his successors. Piton demands his money and threatens to report them to the police for accidentally running down and killing a man, but Mirko has stolen the family funds. Kristina has been persuaded to act in an erotic movie made by Mirko's friend, Đenka, who she has a secret relationship with and who runs the local cinema where she worked as a piano accompanist for silent movies before the advent of sound. Mirko catches them naked together and chokes her in a jealous rage. Mirko returns to his family and makes himself their leader by force, while Đenka is accidentally burned to death by the deaf Maksimilijan who turns on the crematorium while Đenka is repairing it. The Topalovićs and Piton's gang raid each other's houses simultaneously, with both being set on fire. The movie ends with a shootout between the Topalovićs and Piton's gang, in which Piton is killed, and then the Topalovićs breaking through a police cordon.


Cast

*
Bogdan Diklić Bogdan Diklić ( sr-Cyrl, Богдан Диклић; ; born 1 August 1953) is a Serbian actor. He has been active since the late 1970s and starred in over one hundred Yugoslav films and television series. Diklić made ten films with director Gor ...
as Mirko Topalović *
Bata Stojković Bata, Baťa, Baţa or Batá may refer to: Organizations * Bata Corporation, a multinational corporation * Bata Shoe Museum, a museum of the history of footwear in Toronto Places * Bata, Burgas Province, a village in the municipality of Pomor ...
as Laki Topalović *
Pavle Vujisić Pavle ( Macedonian and sr-Cyrl, Павле; ka, პავლე) is a Serbian, Macedonian, Croatian and Georgian male given name corresponding to the English Paul; the name is of biblical origin, coming from Saint Paul. People Mononyms * Pa ...
as Milutin Topalović *
Mija Aleksić Milosav "Mija" Aleksić ( sr-cyr, Милосав "Мија" Алексић; 26 September 1923 – 12 March 1995) was a Serbian actor. Early life Aleksić was born in the Gornja Crnuća village within the municipality of Gornji Milanovac, Kingdo ...
as Aksentije Topalović *
Milivoje Tomić Milivoje "Mića" Tomić (10 February 1920 – 23 August 2000) was a Serbian actor. Tomić won numerous awards during his career, including the " Pavle Vuisic" Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Selected filmography References External lin ...
as Maksimilijan Topalović * Radislav Lazarević as Pantelija Topalović *
Zoran Radmilović Zoran Radmilović ( sr-Cyrl, Зоран Радмиловић; 11 May 1933 – 21 July 1985) was a Serbian actor who had some of the most memorable roles in the history of former Yugoslav cinema. He studied law, architecture and philology at the ...
as Billy the Python (Bili Piton) * Seka Sablić as Kristina *
Bora Todorović Borivoje "Bora" Todorović ( sr-Cyrl, Боривоје "Бора" Тодоровић; 5 November 1930 – 7 July 2014) was a Serbian actor. He was the younger brother of the actress, Mira Stupica, and father of Srđan Todorović. Biography He ...
as Đenka *
Melita Bihali Melita may refer to: __NOTOC__ Places * Melite (ancient city), on the site of modern Mdina, Malta * Melita (ancient port city), near city of Melitopol in southeast Ukraine * Melita, Manitoba, Canada, a town * Melita (island), Latin name of Mljet, ...
as Olja the maid *
Fahro Konjhodžić Fahrudin "Fahro" Konjhodžić (13 January 1931 – 26 May 1984) was a Bosnian film and television actor. Death Konjhodžić died in 1984 after a long illness, aged 53. Partial filmography *''Stojan Mutikaša'' (1954) - Jegulja *''Jedini izlaz ...
as Mr Rajković * Veljko Mandić as Rajković's brother *
Bata Paskaljević Mihajlo "Bata" Paskaljević ( sr-cyr, Михајло "Бата" Паскаљевић; 14 January 1923 – 26 January 2004) was a Serbian stage, film, and television actor, permanent member of the Belgrade Drama Theatre since 1950. ...
as Older gendarme * Dragoljub-Gula Milosavljević as Mourner (as Dragoljub Milosavljević) *
Miroslav Jovanović Miroslav may refer to: * Miroslav (given name), a Slavic masculine given name * ''Young America'' (clipper) or ''Miroslav'', an Austrian clipper ship in the Transatlantic case oil trade * Miroslav (Znojmo District), a town in the Czech Republic S ...
as 1st Twin * Dragoslav Jovanović as 2nd Twin * Milovan Tasić as The Giant * Milan Janjić as Midget * Ras Rastoder as Younger gendarme * Stanojlo Milinković as Villager * Vojislav Micović as Old man at cemetery * Nebojša Terzić as Priest Đura * Nikola Brodac as Deceased


Awards

The Marathon Family won two awards in 1982, including the Jury Prize at the
Montréal World Film Festival The Montreal World Film Festival (), commonly abbreviated MWFF in English or FFM in French, was an annual film festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1977 to 2019.Pula Film Festival Pula Film Festival () is an annual Croatian film festival, established in 1954. It is held in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula Arena. Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival and is usually held in the summer, in July or Aug ...
, which went to Seka Sablić for her portrayal of Kristina.


See also

*
List of Yugoslavian films This is a list of the most notable Yugoslav cinema films. 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s See also * List of Yugoslav submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film * List of films f ...


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Marathon Family 1982 films 1982 black comedy films Serbian black comedy films 1980s Serbian-language films Films about death Yugoslav films based on plays Films based on works by Dušan Kovačević Films about feuds Films set in Serbia Films set in Yugoslavia Films set in 1935 Films directed by Slobodan Šijan Films with screenplays by Dušan Kovačević Yugoslav black comedy films Films about the Serbian Mafia Films about families Films about infidelity Films scored by Zoran Simjanović