__Amor Fati

Dennis Todorovic Discusses his "Love of Fate"

The staff at 'Sublime Artistry' would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Todorovic, director and co-writer of "Amor Fati", for agreeing to the following interview, and sharing some of his personal insights. You can view the film's trailer (in four segments) via the PB.com media area; also very generously donated by Mr. Todorovic. We hope you enjoy the following as much as we have during the process!

Can you tell us a little bit about "Amor Fati" and what transpires during this story?

Amor Fati (which is Latin and translates "Love of Fate") is a story about Nenad (Branko Tomovic), born and raised in Germany but of Serbian or Montenegrin origin, and his father-in-law Branko (Pedja Bjelac), who on the night of Nenad's wedding get into a tragic car accident in which they both loose their dearest: Sanja, Nenad's bride and Branko's daughter. Branko was driving the car during the accident and in his grief Nenad blames the careless driver, his father-in-law for murdering his wife. However, Branko is Montenegrin and his concept of life seems to be a quite different one to Nenad's. He blames destiny, that inescapable blueprint in life, and to Nenad there doesn't even seem to be a hint of guilt in Branko's emotions. Now that's the conflict which comes to its climax in the Montenegrin mountains. Without giving too much away, I can say this much: Nenad challenges destiny.

Where did the initial inspiration to write this film come from? Had the idea been bubbling for a while or did a particular situation trigger the story?

The idea is based of course on my experience with basic differences between Montenegro and Germany (and in a very, very simplified way one might say "The Balkans" and "The West") - differences in the way of seeing the world, a somewhat different approach to life. Then the film is full of little situations I remember from my own experience in this way or another. Not the tragedy, but lots of little moments. The atmosphere during a funeral in Montenegro, two old widows dressed in black walking down a snowy road, a car skidding dangerously to the side of the road and us trying to push it back onto track - things like that. Melanie Andernach (producer and co-writer of Amor Fati) and me put these elements together and formed a rather highly dramatic and condensed short story.

As a director, how do you approach the casting process? Did you have any idea early on who you might like to fill certain roles?

It seems to me in casting that there is no such thing as a general rule or approach. It was clear to me from very early on that I wanted Pedja for the father. I knew him from Prague, where I used to work before I started filmschool in Cologne, and for a long time it seemed that it wouldn't work out, since he was very busy with Harry Potter. Much later, only one week before shooting, we eventually found a few days of his time to do this film together which was just perfect. I got to know Branko Tomovic in Cologne during a "directing-actors-class" and him being of Serbian origin, having grown up in Germany he was just the right guy for the part - he just has all Nenad needs, this sincere counterpart to "wild Pedja" (as Branko that is). Sandra Kouba (the bride Sanja) I found through her agency in Germany, a young and very lively and powerful actress, just the right one to be the cheerful bride, full of vitality.

I understand filming took place in both Montenegro and Germany. What was it like for you, with a full cast and crew, to pull everything together from multiple locations?

Well, it wasn't easy. The cast and crew came from "all over the place". From Germany, Belgrade and Montenegro, well yes and Pedja from Prague...then of course it wasn't easy especially from a production point of view to shoot on location in Montenegro. There is just no film-infrastructure in this small country, so it is not like in Cologne where you just call up your local "specialized-in-solving-your-particular-problem-person". There everything works on the base of knowing someone who is someone's neighbour who happens to be the cousin of someone who might be able to help you. I have no idea how we could have pulled it off if it wasn't for my family down there who of course happen to know people. A month later, in March we shot the German part in Cologne, which of course was much easier (and not even remotely as adventurous...)

After watching the trailer, I noticed the weather appeared somewhat unpleasant. Did that set you back or cause any major difficulties during filming?

Oh yes! Shooting in February in Montenegro was about as hard as it can get...we chose February since we needed snow for the story, but we never expected to get that much. Last year was the hardest winter they've had in fifty years we were told. Tons (I mean tons!) of snow everywhere, we started every day shoveling snow and then we even lost our chosen location to shoot the last scene at, simply because we couldn't get there. So we shot it someplace else (and now I must say that I am very happy with this other location, since we found such perfect pictures there as the tree growing from the side of the street - you can see that one in the trailer, too) but with Montenegro being a big but still Mediterranean country, we shot it a few hundred meters lower where that night's snow had turned into rain and had washed away the snow we had there. So we had to hire a bagger to get us snow from higher up the road and lay it where we had to shoot.

Apart from those "catastrophes" we just had to get used to shooting during rain, snow and hail, with power failures and therefore often no heating at night or warm water. It wasn't easy.

What about "Amor Fati" would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? What are you the most proud of?

I am most proud of the fact that the film got completed. Honestly, it didn't always feel like it would. To my own surprise, I am very proud of the film as such, everytime I see it, I wonder how we managed after all this time of struggling to end up with a film that turned out to be the film we originally intended. Lots of thanks to the team!

Is there a particular director, actor, writer, etc, that you most admire? Who are your personal influences?

That's a hard one. There are so many fabulous directors and masters around, past and present, it is almost impossible to pinpoint one or two. I guess I can only tell you which directors influenced the style of Amor Fati - and that would be some Italians, such as Visconti and Fellini but most of all Sergio Leone. Then most obviously there is no way to escape the influence of Emir Kusturica or Slobodan Sijan from former Yugoslavia, and in one scene we also referred to George Lucas' THX...lots of different filmmakers and it will be up to the film-buffs amongst you to figure out what moment is influenced by what film.

Were stunt doubles used during the more dangerous scenes or did the actors tackle those themselves? As an example, when Branko is dangling precariously over the side of a cliff.

Yes, right. Branko dangling over the cliff, shot from below, that's a stunt moment. Shooting up there in the mountains on the edge of that road however was a stunt by itself, both Pedja and Branko Tomovic had quite a lot of "edgy" work to do by themselves. And they did so well.

As the webmiss of Sublime Artistry I would be remiss in not asking the following question. What was it like working with Pedja? Do any particular moments come to mind that you'd be willing to share?

Working with Pedja was a joyful process full of surprises. He is one of the kind that will come up with unexpected new ideas just before shooting, and sometimes you almost hate him for his ideas, because they are mostly just too good not to be included...and then you have to get along with his spontaneous input and be as spontaneous in putting it in! It is a lot of fun, though, and Branko wouldn't be the Branko he is without Pedja's constant concern in making every scene as rich and lively as possible.

Do you have any tips or suggestions for aspiring filmmakers out there?

I guess I am too young a filmmaker to boast around with suggestions and tips...I guess "dare!" is a good one. Go out there and do it, do it reasonably and sincerely, but go and DO things. It's the only way to learn and surprise yourself with what is possible...

Is "Amor Fati" scheduled for release at any upcoming film festivals? Will it be possible for those of us with limited resources to see the film at any time?

Well, the only definite date for now is December 3rd in Stuttgart, Germany - During the "Filmschau Stuttgart" Festival. The film was funded by the "Robert-Bosch-Stiftung" in co-operation with the "Filmbuero Baden-Wuerttemberg" and the "Filmschau Stuttgart" is their event, when they will show the projects funded by that organization. Other then that it is still too early to let you know anything. We are trying to get it into as many festivals as possible around the world and I will let you know as soon as there is something definite to be told.

:: Mandy, Sublime Artistry (November 04, 2005)