The Ultimate Triumph

BY JEFFREY LESSER

Croatians and croatophiles alike, the time to celebrate is now. On December 4th, 2005 in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, the
greatest team achievement in Croatian history took place. Under the leadership of Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic, the Croatian men’s tennis team won what is by far the most important team event in all of tennis, the Davis Cup.

The Croatians won the year-long four-round event after beginning their conquest in February, defeating the United States’
dream team that featured Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, and the Bryan Brothers, who had never lost even a set in doubles in five previous Davis Cup appearances. Ancic and Ljubicic then took their two man wrecking crew back home to Croatia, where they faced Romania, defeating the overmatched Andrei Pavel and Victor Hanescu by a 4-1 margin. Then the Croatians, on the strength of Ivan Ljubicic’s five set win over Mikhail Youzhny on the first day and a Ljubicic-Ancic doubles victory on the second, defeated Russia in the semifinals. This set them up for their showdown against the Slovaks.

The first Davis Cup final ever to feature two unseeded teams did not disappoint. In the first match, Ivan Ljubicic, who had been on fire in the latter half of the year, shooting up in the world rankings to an all-time high of number nine in the world, faced 308th-ranked Karol Kucera, who filled in for an ailing Karol Beck. The match was as lopsided as the rankings would suggest, as Ljubicic simply overpowered the hapless Slovak, 6-3 6-4 6-3. Although the Croatian section had much to cheer for in an otherwise-partisan arena, only one point was secured for the Croatians. Team victory required three points, not just one. What was perhaps most amazing about this victory was that it was Ivan Ljubicic’s tenth Davis Cup match win. After the match, he had a record of 7-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles for the year in Davis Cup competition. Every one of his wins took place when the outcome of the tie was still undecided— before Croatia secured three match wins. Nobody in the history of the event has ever secured so meaningful many wins in one year.

In the second match of the day, the solid Slovak number one, Dominik Hrbaty, defeated Mario Ancic in four long sets. After
day one of the final, it was Croatia, 1; Slovak Republic, 1. Because the first day left the teams knotted up at one, the doubles became more important than ever. The winner would have to win only one of the two singles matches on Sunday to secure its respective nation’s first ever Davis Cup title. Ancic and Ljubicic, despite a shaky start, overcame their Slovak foes, Hrbaty and Michal Mertinak, in the first set in a tight tiebreak. The next set, and the match, fell to the Croatians, sending the fans and players into frenzy. After a 7-6(5) 6-3 7-6(5) victory, Croatia was up 2-1 in the finals. One more win would not only secure Ivan Ljubicic a perfect year in Davis Cup, but also possession of the Davis Cup.

Croatian fans could sense victory as soon as it was announced that Ivan Ljubicic would be facing Dominik Hrbaty in the first
match on Sunday. Ljubicic had a 5-0 career record against Hrbaty and, more importantly, an undefeated record in Davis Cup to date. After easily notching the first set, an ailing Ljubicic shockingly dropped the next two to the Slovak, who was clearly rising to the occasion, playing one of the best matches of his career. Still, Ljubicic, who had vomited in between sets and called the decision on whether or not he would play “one of the toughest decisions of my career,” found a way to win the fourth set. In a match of indescribable intensity and fan passion with so much at stake, Ljubicic finally folded to the home fans’ pressure in the tenth game of the fifth set, serving at 4-5. Hrbaty had won the match, 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4, and not only prevented Croatian triumph but had stopped the previously unstoppable Ljubicic, handing Ljubicic his first Davis Cup defeat of the year.

Hrbaty’s victory guaranteed that the winner of the fifth match would take home the Cup. The fate of the Davis Cup rested on
the broad shoulders of 21-year-old Mario Ancic, who was to face Michal Mertinak, thrown into the singles equation in place of the ineffective Karol Kucera. Mertinak, more known for his doubles play than his singles and ranked only 162 in the world, started off well against the 22nd-ranked Ancic, forcing a tiebreak against the 6’5’’ Croat. Ancic, the heavy favorite in the match, easily won the tiebreak, giving Croatia a one set edge in the decisive battle. The second set was much easier for Mario, who brought Croatia painfully close to the coveted Cup. After an early break in the third set, Ancic lost his serve for the first time in the match to even up the third set, giving Slovak fans hope once again. However, Mertinak lost his serve at 4-4 in the third set, allowing Mario to serve for the match and the Davis Cup. Ancic came through. The Croatians had won the ultimate prize of team tennis, the Davis Cup!

The celebration was only fitting. Ljubicic jumped into the arms of Ancic on the court, and both jumped up and down in each
other’s arms. Watching the Tennis Channel, which provided live coverage of the events, and in the comforts of my own home, I followed suit. When I saw how happy Ljubicic was (he called himself “the happiest loser in the world”), I cried. Croatia won the Davis Cup!

Partying will ensue all over Croatia. Tennis fans will not underestimate the prestige of the Davis Cup, and neither should you.
Give Ancic and Ljubicic praise where it is due— which, right now, is everywhere.For at least 2005, Croatian tennis is the best in the world.

***

 

The Doors Art Foundation
www.doors-art.com 
presents

Upcoming film screenings at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater
every first Thursday of the month

Thursday, December 1, 2005 @ 7PM

HERE
(TU)

2003, Interfilm, 35mm, Croatia 90 MIN
Director: Zrinko Ogresta
Cast: Zlatko Crnkovic, Ivo Gregurevic, Marija Tadic, Jasmin Telalovic,
Ivan Herceg, Nikola Ivosevic
Croatian (English subtitles)


Two Boots Pioneer Theater
is located at:
155 East 3rd Street (at Avenue A) / NYC / (212) 591-0434

Tickets: $9.00 adults, $6.50 members
Seating is limited so we encourage you to buy your tickets in advance.
http://pioneertheater.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=42854

 

The Doors Art Foundation is proud to present monthly screenings featuring a selection of films from the Croatian cinema of the last decade. This unique project is a result of a creative collaboration between The Doors Art Foundation, the Croatian film critic Jurica Pavicic and the featured Croatian filmmakers.

HERE
The Balkan conflict and its legacy continue to make their mark on the contemporary Croatian cinema. A success with the audiences and the critics, Zrinko Ogresta's Here (Tu) makes no attempt to find heroes or apportion blame. It opens with the story of a mentally disabled man in a village recently devastated by civil war. What follows are five loosely linked portraits from contemporary life: a young female drug addict, a lonely retired man who is deluded into accepting a young neighbor's offer of a date, a television actor who has become an alcoholic, and two soldiers who have been traumatized by war. The stories present situations in which the characters find themselves at odds with an apparently normal world, living essentially private lives and unable to establish relationships. There is a no narrative resolution although the film ends with the ironic use of the national anthem before the camera retreats through a tunnel similar to that with which the film begins. The war frames and inflects a sympathetic and humane portrait of everyday life that recognizes how all generations of the Croatian society have been permanently marked by the horrors of the recent war.
 

Awards:
Denver International Film Festival
2004 Best European Film
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
2004 Special Prize of the Jury
Milan Film Festival
2004 Best Feature Film
Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival
2004 Critics Award /Features
Pula Film Festival Best Film
2003 Big Golden Arena /National Competition

directions:

subways
- F or V train to Lower East Side / Second Avenue. Exit toward 1st Avenue. Walk north (away from Houston) to 3rd street, then east just past Avenue A to 155 East 3rd.
buses
- 9 or 21 bus to Houston Street and Avenue A. Walk north to 3rd Street. Turn east and go a few doors down to 155 East 3rd.
- 14A bus to 3rd street and Avenue A.
- The 8 and 15 buses also come relatively close, as do these trains: 6 (Bleecker Street station), B and D (Grand Street), JMZ (Delancey / Essex), and L (1st Ave).

We look forward to seeing you there.
For more info. please visit www.doors-art.com
 

CROATIAN VOCAL ENSEMBLE KLAPA SINJ
PERFORMS MEDITERRANEAN SOUNDS WITH SPECIAL GUEST NENAD BACH
Wednesday, December 7, 7 pm

November 23, 2005 MEDIA CONTACT
Images and CDs available Kennon Brown 312.744.8948
kennon.brown@cityofchicago.org

This performance is part of Chicago Cultural Center Presents, an ongoing showcase series that highlights critically acclaimed national and international musicians who are rarely seen by Chicago audiences in mainstream venues.

On Wednesday, December 7 at 7 pm, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents the Chicago debut of Klapa Sinj, one of the most revered singing ensembles in Dalmatia. Croatian composer and rock musician Nenad Bach joins the ensemble as special guest. The concert takes place in the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street. Admission is free.

“This is the first time Klapa singing will be presented to the world,â€? Nenad Bach says. “The world is always looking for something new. We’ve seen it with Cuban music, with Irish music. It’s time for Klapa to become a world phenomenon.â€?

Founded in 1982 to promote Croatia's musical legacy, Klapa Sinj has continued to be successful due to the extraordinary musical talent of its members. Having developed a wholly distinct performance style and contributing a number of new compositions to the existing canon of the Klapa music, which features soaring a cappella sounds, Klapa Sinj has produced numerous albums and has appeared frequently across the European continent. Their crowning achievement came during the recent festivals of a cappella music in Verona, Bolzano and Prague where Klapa Sinj won top prizes. Their repertory consists of a remarkable variety of traditional tunes and songs. The joy with which they approach each performance is audible in the beauty of the harmony created by so many disparate and singular voices. Klapa Sinj's accomplishments are a standing testament to the fact that the magic of music can still change the world for the better. The music reflects a 600-year old folk custom which found small groups of men gathering to give voice to the human stories of love, loss and longing, serenading a beloved on a balcony, singing their hearts out in the stone alleys and cathedrals of this region. The form has evolved over the years to become the sophisticated and finely layered sound that it is today.

Classically trained composer and rock musician Nenad Bach, a Croatian now living in the U.S., joins the ensemble in a few songs, accompanying the singers on guitar and piano, along with additional musicians. Bach has produced a new CD featuring the ensemble, called “Klapa Sinj: Lipo Ime.â€? “[Their music] will stop your brain,â€? Bach promises. “In a cluttered world, this is a pure sound that calms. Each performance receives a standing ovation, and when you see them, you will hear why.â€?

Nenad Bach is a recording artist, composer, and performer who has performed all over the world with a wide range of artists, including Luciano Pavarotti, Bono and The Edge (U2), Brian Eno, Indigo Girls, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko (The Band), Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead), John Malkovich, Ellen Burstyn, and many more. He performed at Woodstock 1994, and in 1998 he made a compilation album with Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen and Allen Ginsberg. Bach also writes and records music for film and theater. He has scored many features and short films. One such project was "King of Cool," a biopic about the life of Steve McQueen. Subsequently, Nenad scored the Mladen Juran film "Transatlantic", which was the Croatian entry for consideration as Best Foreign Film in the 1999 Academy Awards. Bach is also a record producer with a special interest in documenting the fascinating but little-known musical traditions of his homeland, Croatia. He recently completed work as a language consultant for the literature and film project for all four of the Harry Potter books.

For more information about this program and future Chicago Cultural Center Presents programs, please call 312.744.6630 or visitwww.chicagoculturalcenter.org . Upcoming performances include Jim Gailloreto and Kurt Elling on Thursday, January 19, 7 pm and the Emil Zrihan Ensemble on January 30, 7 pm.

# # #

Public programs at the Chicago Cultural Center are presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Courtney Angela Brkic New York reading and book-signing

I’ll be reading from my nonfiction book, THE STONE FIELDS, this coming Tuesday. All are welcome and this may be the last reading I do for awhile! With best wishes to all at CROWN.

When: Tuesday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Cooper Union, Wollman Auditorium, 51 Astor Place, New York (Astor Place is the nearest subway stop)
 

Klapa Sinj to Embark on FirstEver U.S. Tour of Klapa Music
Traditional Croatian music finally takes itsrightful place on the World Music stage

By Maria Grgurevic

For 20 years now the World Music Institute in New York has carefully pickedacts to present in its World Music Series. Being selected to perform under theinstitute’s sponsorship is a high honor. On Dec. 2, the vocal group Klapa Sinjof Croatia will have this honor. The group is starting the first ever klapatour in the U.S. with a performance on the Society for Ethical Culture stage inNew York, says Nenad Bach, a Croatian-born New York musician and producer who isresponsible for making this happen. The tour will continue to the Kennedy Centerin Washington, D.C., and the Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall,both highly prestigious stages.

For at least a decade, Bach has wanted to take klapa music (atraditional form of a cappella singing from Croatia’s coastal region)out of Croatian clubs and restaurants and give it its rightful place on theworld music scene. He has been working day and night to make this happen forsome time. Bach refers to the process of getting to this point as “lifting thecement block from the bottom of the sea.” He sees Klapa music on majorworld music stages around the world, turning it into another Croatian exportbrand.

Bach received strong affirmation that he was on the right track back in 2002.National Public Radio featured his recording of traditional Dalmatian sacralmusic on its “Millennium of Music” program and the audience responsesurpassed all expectations. That CD, called “Following the Cross,” was arecording of traditional Lenten music from the island of Hvar. Program hostRobert Aubrey Davis refers to this program as “one of the most popular seriesof programs we did.”

After that, Bach began producing a klapa music series called“Mediterranean Sounds – Croatia’s Mystic Voices,” with the intent ofreaching the American world music audience. The CD jacket features spectacularartwork by Andrej Urem and provides song translations. To achieve a cutting edgesound, Bach is recording groups with the latest surround-sound technology neverbefore used in klapa music, while keeping its natural resonance byrecording in Dalmatian stone churches. The first two CDs in the series came outin 2005 – the women’s Klapa Fa Linđo and the men’s Klapa Sinj.

Klapa Sinj has a special sound in the world of klapa music, as theyare not from the Adriatic coast, but from the mountainous hinterland. They singcoastal music seasoned with the rugged energy of the mountains, says Bach.“[They are] part of the Mediterranean sound, but more in the hills, so theyhave a little bit more of this ojkanje,” he says. “They are inbetween ganga and sea-level. Lyricism of the seashore and the roughnessof stone; the ‘rolling stones’ of klapa singing.” Ojkanje isa vocal technique characteristic of ganga, a singing style from themountains behind Dalmatia.

Besides producing other artists, Bach has written music for film and theatre,has recorded his own original albums, and has headed a number of other creativeand humanitarian projects. Currently he is working on his own new album called“Everything is Forever.” This project will be about bringing his roots tohis music and to the world. He takes inspiration from Paul Simon’s “Graceland.”

“Paul Simon kept the integrity of the artist but brought it to the worldstage,” Bach says. This is how he plans to work with Klapa Sinj. He will berecording with Klapa Sinj while they are on tour, and, as part of the concertprogram, they will perform together six of Bach’s new compositions.

Although klapa has been used as background vocals in Croatian popmusic, Bach will be the first to use it as integral part of his compositions.“Klapa is in my collective memory,” he says. “If I can add anythingto the world stage, it has to be my roots.”

Klapa Sinj will be performing in the following cities:

• Dec. 2, opening of the U.S. tour in New York as part of the World Music Institute concert series at the Society for Ethical Culture.
• Dec. 4, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.,
• Dec.7, at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall.

For New York show tickets go to www.nenadbach.com.The concerts in Washington, D.C. and Chicago are free of charge. Listeners inother cities will be able to hear the Dec. 4 concert live over the Internet, at www.kennedycenter.com.The Klapa Sinj CD, as well as the Fa Linđo CD, the other album in thisproject, are available on www.nenadbach.com,as well as www.amazon.com, www.cdbaby.com,and www.eBay.com.

Weekly Bulletin from Croatian Embassy in Washington DC

RepublicofCroatia_WeeklyBulletin-Vol.2,Issue48.pdf
 

Film 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' – zivi dokument istine o Hrvatskoj

Pise: Domagoj Margetic

U Hrvatskoj rijetko mozemo vidjeti dokumentarni film toliko potkrijepljen cinjenicama, kao sto je to slucaj sa dokumentarnim filmom americke redateljice hrvatskoga porijekla Brende Brkusic: 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' (Freedom from Despair'), koji je prikazan u Zagrebu, u subotu 12. studenog u Kinu Europa, u sklopu festivala dokumentarnog filma o hrvatskim iseljenicima, kojega je organizirala udruga 'Hrvatska dijaspora'.

'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' biografski je film u kojemu Brenda Brkusic dokumentarno prikazuje zivot svojega oca u bivsoj Jugoslaviji neposredno nakon II. Svjetskog rata, u prvim godinama komunizma i Titove diktature. Međutim, kroz sudbinu Krune Brkusica, 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' predstavlja film o nacionalnoj sudbini Hrvata u bivsoj Jugoslaviji. Mnoge se obitelji i pojedinci mogu poistovjetiti sa sudbinom ljudi o kojima govori film redateljice Brkusic. Sjedio sam u kinu i gledao film sa nekoliko dugogodisnjih politickih zatvorenika u bivsoj Jugoslaviji, od kojih je jedan i nekoliko puta osuđivan na smrt, ali je stjecajem okolnosti prezivio, i njegova je presuda na smrt svaki put preinacena u dugogodisnju zatvorsku kaznu. Ti ljudi najbolje znaju da Brenda Brkusic nije izmislila nista u svojemu filmu, oni su svjedoci vremena, zrtve jedne neljudske i bezbozne diktature o kojoj govori i film 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja'.

I doista, Brenda Brkusic u svojem filmu beskompromisno, bez straha, bez zelje i namjere da bilo kome ugađa ili se pogađa oko istine, donosi istinu o Hrvatskoj o kojoj mnogi hrvatski novinari danas sute. Brendin film zasigurno danas i nije politicki najkorektniji, ali istina rijetko jest i moze biti politicki korektna. 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' dokument je vremena o kojemu mnogi mladi ljudi u Hrvatskoj ne znaju gotovo nista, za njih ta istina o Hrvatskoj ne postoji, tu se istinu stalno nastoji sakriti pod prasnjave tepihe politickih hipoteka proslosti. Pa ipak, mlada americka redateljica hrvatskoga porijekla obracunava se s licemjerjem danasnjice i otresa prasinu sa istine o komunistickoj diktaturi u Hrvatskoj, odnosno u bivsoj Jugoslaviji. Kroz price o sudbinama ljudi koji su bili zrtve komunistickog rezima film nas ponovno podsjeca na ono sto smo prije samo desetak godina stalno govorili, a sada pomalo konformisticki zaboravljamo: postoji samo jedna istina, postoji samo jedna istina o Hrvatskoj! Istin ne poznaje dogovore, nagodbe, istina ne poznaje zgodne i nezgodne trenutke da se o njoj govori, istina ne poznaje i ne priznaje razloge za sutnju. Ona mora biti glasna, istinu se mora govoriti. Film Brende Brkusic nas na to opominje, kao zivi dokument istine o Hrvatskoj. Dokument koji sada predstavlja zivi spomenik hrvatskim zrtvama komunizma i opomenu generacijama koje dolaze, a koje nisu zivjele i odrastale u to nesretno vrijeme kada su mnogi hrvatski ljudi trazili svoj put za 'izbavljenje iz ocaja'.

'Ne postoje dobra ili losa vremena. Postoje samo dobri ili pak losi ljudi u vremenu ...', rekao je ovih dana u svojoj propovijedi na desetogodisnjicu Crkve Svete Mati Slobode u Zagrebu pomocni biskup zagrebacki Valentin Pozaic. Tada sam prede ocima imao slike iz filma 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja', slike koje jasno svjedoce te biskupove rijeci. Slike o jednom vremenu iskusenja, patnje, zrtve, slike egzodusa Hrvata iz Domovine u dijasporu, svjedocanstvo o dobrim i losim ljudima u tom vremenu koje cemo pamtiti kao desetljeca mrznje, ali i desetljeca ljubavi onih koji su patili i trpili i zrtvovali se za Domovinu. 'Izbavljenje iz ocaja' na svoj je nacin spomen na te hrvatske mucenike i zahvala na njihovoj zrtvi za Hrvatsku koju su sanjali, a nase generacije ju dosanjale.
 

CROATIAN BOOK CLUB OF NEW YORK

In the spirit of Christmas, a season of sharing and hope, our next monthly selection will be 'Healing the Heart of Croatia� by Joseph Kerrigan and William Novick, M.D.

For gifts, please buy Croatian books which are available at www.amazon.com for as little as .87 cents and up.

Croatian writers have generously donated several of their books to read and circulate. Josip Novakovich contributed his latest 'Infidelities: Stories of War and Lustâ€? and 'April Fool’s Dayâ€?; Mary Helen Stefaniak donated several copies of 'The Turk and My Motherâ€?; Maja Muric donated copies of 'First Service - Following God’s Calling and Finding Life’s Purposeâ€?; Blanka Raguz 'The Labyrinthâ€?; Ivan Dobra contributed his book of poems 'Zirajska ufanjaâ€?;

Meeting place: Croatian Cultural Center
Address: 502 West 41st Street, New York, NY (between 10th & 11th Avenues)
Dates: Every Third Wednesday in the month, December 21st, 2005 at 6 p.m.
Next book selection: 'Healing the Heart of Croatia� by Kerrigan & Novick, M.D.

Please read the book in advance.

A Croatian Book Club is meeting in New York City to promote Croatian culture. Our club offers readers the opportunity to participate in spirited discussions considering diverse viewpoints about unique subject material.

Each month, the facilitator will choose a 'book of the month� that will be read by members in advance and discussed later at the monthly meeting. The monthly meeting will last from approximately 1-3 hours, depending on the vitality of the discussion, size of the group and availability of space.

Below is a partial list of books that will be discussed:

* 'The Stone Fields� by Courtney Angela Brkic
* 'Infidelities – stories of War and Lustâ€? by Josip Novakovic
* 'How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed� by Slavenka Drakulic
* 'Neither Red nor Dead� by Stevo Julius
* 'The Museum of Unconditional Surrender� by Dubravka Ugresic
* 'The Banquet in Blitva� by Miroslav Krleza
* 'The Turk and My Mother� by Mary Helen Stefaniak
* 'Sarajevo Marlboro� by Miljenko Jergovic
* 'Croatian Tales of Long Ago� by Ivana Brlic Mazuranic
* 'Anna Marinkovich� by Edward Ifkovic
* 'Carrying the Farm on Her Back – A portrait of Women in a Croatian Villageâ€? by Eva Skold Westerlind
* 'Healing the Heart of Croatia� by Joseph Kerrigan
* 'Goodby Dear Old Homeland� by Yasna Sikic Hood
* 'American Dream - a Guy from Croatia� by Boris Miksic
* 'Thorn Lace – Mojmir – A Migrant’s Lotâ€? by Ina Vukic
* 'Moments of Truth: Real Stories of Life Changing Inspiration� Mike Celizic
* 'The Labyrinth� by Blanka Raguz www.blankaraguz.com
* 'You’re Hired: How to Succeed in Business and Life from the Winner of the Apprenticeâ€? by Bill Rancic
* 'Lovers and Madmen – a True Story of Passion, Politics and Air Piracyâ€? by Julienne Eden Busic
* 'Fix Our United States� by Krist (Chris) Novoselic www.dwstudios.net
* 'Necessary Targets: A Story of Women and War� by Eve Ensler
* www.admit2.net Natalija Grgorinic & Ognjen Raden
* 'The Bridge on the Drina� by Ivo Andric
* 'Don’t Call Me Rosieâ€? by Kathleen Thomas www.thomaswright.com
* Louis Adamic www.synapse.ne.jp/saitani/ or www.alibris.com
* 'A Single Step� by Heather Mills McCartney (chapters on Croatia)
* 'Can You Hear Me Screaming?� by Eric Obenauf www.twodollarradio.com or www.CroatiaGifts.com
* 'First Service� by Andrea Jaeger (Maja Muric) www.firstservicebook.com
* 'Celestial Dancer� by Anthony Shafer alias Peter Celich
* 'Letters to My Daughters� by Mary Matalin (Tomasevich)
* 'The Passion to Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating� by Sandra Bezic
* 'Pixletown: The World Found� by Marija Miletic Dail
* 'The Survival League� by Gordan Nuhanovic
* 'Tesla: Man Out of Time� by Margaret Cheney
* 'Zagreb, Exit South� by Edo Popovic
* 'American Scream� by Dubravka Oraic Tolic
* 'King of the Confessors� by Thomas Hoving
* 'Mother’s Memoirs – Lucy Majnaric Marincelâ€? by Emily Marincel Amberg
* 'Zinka Milanov and Flora Tosca: Art, Love, and Politics� by Bruce Burroughs
* Bogdan Radica – out of print


Most of the above books are available free of charge at the Public Library or may be purchased at www.amazon.com .

Book Club discussion questions and topics:

¡ What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the book? What do you think he or she is trying to convey to the reader?
¡ Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
¡ What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
¡ How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
· In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author’s world view?
¡ Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
¡ What did you find surprising about the facts introduced in this book?
¡ How has reading this book changed your opinion of a certain person or topic?
¡ Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does she or he achieve this?
¡ If the author is writing on a controversial issue, does he or she give proper consideration to all sides of the debate? Does he or she seem to have a bias?
¡ How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

Facilitator:
Katarina Tepesh is a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild. Her essays, 'Father’s Funeralâ€? and 'Babin Kukâ€? were published in Caprice and Quiet Mountain Essays.
'Yearning for Freedom in a Land of the Free� and 'Red Tent� at Free River Press. Short story, 'Anica, a Mail Order Bride from Croatia� has been published on the CROWN www.CroatianWorld.net . Katarina is also a member of the Storytellers - International Toastmasters Club, promoting writing, public speaking and leadership skills. Katarina comes from Zagorje region and now lives in New York City.

If you are interested in joining The Croatian Book Club (CBC) of New York, please contact Katarina by email tepeshk@aol.com  or telephone 212-744-1985.

****
 

ARSEN ANTON OSTOJIĆ, dobitnik nagrade za najbolju režijuna upravo održanom međunarodnom filmskom festivalu ŤQueens 2005ť u NewYorku:

"Ta divna splitska noć"je film o neostvarenim ljubavima

Piše: Višnja Miočić

Nakon osvojenih čak desetak nagrada na raznim europskim filmskimfestivalima tijekom protekle godine, hrvatski film ŤTa divna splitska noćťna najbolji je mogući način upravo započeo svoju američkukampanju: osvajanjem nagrade za najbolju režiju na upravo održanom međunarodnomfilmskom festivalu ŤQueens 2005ť u New Yorku.
Time je još jednom dokazao opravdanost odluke Društva hrvatskih filmskihumjetnika koje je ovaj film izabralo za hrvatskog predstavnika za najprestižnijunagradu američke filmske akademije Oscar za 2005. u kategoriji za najboljifilm na stranom jeziku.

Arsenu Antonu Ostojiću (40) ovo je prvi dugometražni film, a sa trikratkometražna filma 'Orden', 'Ljubitelj ptica' i 'Slikanje akta' osvojio jetakođer brojne filmske nagrade. Nakon završene dramske akademije u Zagrebu,Ostojić je preselio u New York gdje je proveo deset godina života imagistrirao režiju i produkciju na New York University. Ta divnasplitska noć, kaže Ostojić, rezultat je njegovog životnog iprofesionalnog iskustva, a odabir Splita za mjesto radnje, kaže, nametnulo sekao logično riješenje, i iskazivanje ljubavi prema rodnom gradu. Ostojićevboravak u New Yorku iskoristili smo za kratki razgovor.

Hrvatska kronika: Sve priče u filmu imaju veze s drogom i ne završavaju sretno. Slušajućirazgovore nakon projekcije stiče se dojam da su gledatelji ili oduševljenikvalitetom filma ili šokirani njegovim sadržajem. Kako to komentirate?

Arsen Anton Ostojić: Najgore je kada ljudi iz kina izlaze bezemocija, potpuno ravnodušni. Namjera svakog redatelja je da pobudi emocije, danešto pokrene. Ako je istina to što kažete, znači da sam u tome uspio izbog toga sam sretan. Ovaj film rađen je beskompromisno i mislim da zbogtoga jako dobro korespondira s publikom.

HK: Mislite li da je sadržaj filma šokantan za prosječnoggledatelja s obzirom da se bavi problemom droge koja direktno ili indirektnoubija mlade živote u svakoj od ove tri priče?

AAO: Mislim da je bit filma potpuno krivo shvaćena. Središnjatematika Divne splitske noći nije problem droge, kako se to na prvi poglednameće, već je glavna okosnica problem nesretnih, neostvarenih ljubavi.U svakoj od ove tri priče postoji ljubavna situacija u koju se onda ubacujeđavolski element zla i čini ljubavi neostvarenima, nesretnima, tragičnima.S obzirom da sam kao mjesto radnje odabrao moj rodni grad, Split, droga seautomatski nametnula kao najlogičniji i najprisutniji element zla kojirazara sve dobro u ljudskom životu, pa tako i ljubavi koje su tema filma. Tajelement zla mogao je biti i nešto drugo: oružje ili novac recimo.... Vjerujtemi, da mi je namjera bila napraviti film o problemu droge u Splitu, on biizgledao puno mračnije i tragičnije od onoga što se može vidjeti uovom filmu.

HK: Završetak filma ostavlja mjesta za različita tumačenja?

AAO: Jedini način izlaska iz začaranog labirinta zla je dase poleti i odleti u slobodu....završna scena upravo je zbog toga ostala nedorečena,tj. iako mladić poleti s vrha zgrade ne postoji scena u kojoj on pada, većse završava njegovim ushitom jer je poletio....To se može shvatiti kao tračaknade i poruka da postoji oslobođenje i izlazak iz labirinta zla.

HK: Nakon deset godina provedenih u New Yorku, gdje ste magistrirali režijuna New York Film University, vratili ste se u Hrvatsku. Što možete reći opovratničkom životu?

AAO: Da, živio sam dvije godine u Austriji, gdje sma predavao naAkademiji u Salzburgu, a onda sam se preselio potpuno u Hrvatsku. Mislim da ježivot u Hrvatskoj lijep i, pogotovo za umjetnike, puno kreativniji iinspirativniji. Naravno, puno toga je teže realiziratii, kod nas još uvijekpostoji mentalitet gdje svatko svakom podmeće noge, ali jednom kad touzmete kao nešto što je takvo kakvo jest i skoncentrirate se na pozitivnestrane, život može biti jako lijep i ugodan. Što se tiče snimanjafilmova, atmosfera je također potpuno drugačija. U Hrvatskoj jepitanje snimanja filma još uvijek politička odluka, dok je ovdje u Americipitanje hoće li se film snimati ili ne isključivo financijska odluka.

HK: Sudjelovanje na međunarodnom filmskom festivalu Queens 2005 vašje svojevrsni početak kampanje za nominaciju za Oscara. Koji je sljedećikorak i što mislite kakve su šanse da ove godine hrvatski film uđe ukonkurenciju za nagradu?

AAO: Film je do sada prikazan na danima hrvatskog filma u Chicagu iLos Angelesu, te nedavno na Manhattanu, i moram reći da je kod američkepublike koja ga je vidjela naišao na dobar prijem. Nakon New Yorka upravoputujem u St. Louis, gdje smo također pozvani od organizatora još jednogpriznatog međunarodnog filmskog festivala. Nakon toga film će biti usiječnju prikazan na dvije filmske premijere u Los Angelesu.

Za sada ne postoji nikakva organizirana ni planirana kampanja za promocijufilma. Sudjelujemo tamo gdje nas pozovu. Ministarstvo kulture i HTV kaokoproducent pomažu kroz troškove puta i to je sve za sada. Mada bi i jednaorganizirana kampanja puno pomogla, smatram da je najbitnije za jedan stranifilm da uđe u redovnu distribuciju, tako da ga ljudi vide u kinima prijenominacija za Oscara. S obzirom da strani film u Americi nije jako popularan, toje jako teško izvedivo, ali nije i nemoguće. Upravo me kontaktirala jednadistribucijska kuća iz New Yorka koja je jako zainteresirana. Ako bi sefilm Ta divna splitska noć počeo prikazivati u američkim kinima,i šanse za Oscara bi sigurno puno porasle.

HK: Želimo puno sreće u daljnjem profesionalnom radu i još punonagrada Toj divnoj splitskoj noći!

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