KORCULA and FILM

CINEMAS in Korcula:

Korcula has it’s own open–air cinema located on the very edge of the Korcula Old Town walls that shows new films daily.

Of course, it’s daily only in the summer as it is too cold in the winter to be on the open. Most of the films currently shown in Korcula are, unfortunately, mainstream Hollywood film releases only, as those films are commercially viable.

It used to be an ‘proper’ cinema in the town too, but it is currently under reconstruction, so the only option to watch films in the winter is to hire it from video-stores. There are two video stores in Korcula where films can be rented-out - video store 'Sirius' and ' TT' with wide range of mostly foreign films (Hollywood) blockbusters.

Though Korcula, as well as Croatia, become recently popular as destination for famous film celebrities to pass by and visit with their yachts (John Malkovich, Steven Spielberg etc ) it is less known that Korcula is probably much more important in the film world as unique location for famous Bosnian film ‘Crni Biseri’ (Black Pearls) from 1958.

Film "Crni Biseri" (Black Pearls) :

Film ‘Crni Biseri’ was shot on various Korcula locations. Main location for film was Badija, small island in Korcula archipelago, where Dominican monastery was used as main location for this film.

Film ' Crni Biseri' follows the story of school teacher in young offenders institution, isolated on small island (Badija) who tries to create positive environment for his disadvantaged students and after lot of trouble, eventually succeeds in achieving it.

This is what Hal Erickson of All Movie Guide says abour Crni Biseri: ' This Yugoslavian social drama deals with juvenile delinquency. The titular "Black Pearls" are a group of male reform school inmates, considered beyond redemption by the school authorities. Tensions mount to a fever pitch, culminating in a school revolt. Tragedy is averted by the intervention of an idealistic teacher, who is convinced that he can "reach" the kids-and, perhaps because he is a staunch advocate of the Tito regime, he is successful. Clearly inspired by such Hollywood efforts as The Blackboard Jungle, Crni Biseri was one of the more upbeat entries in Yugoslavia's 1958 Pula Film Festival. '

A lot of local people were working on this film as extras having great fun doing it :)

• Director: Toma Janjic; Scenario: Jug Grizelj; Music: Bojan Adamic
• Camera: Eduard Bogdanic Color : Black & White
• Time: 99 min Release: 1958
• actors: Severin Bjelic, Milan Ajvaz, Branislav Miladinovic, Franjo Tuma, Luja Vetma, Mihajlo Viktorovic

Film "Crni Biseri" is considered to be among most important films coming form former Yugoslavia, made by teachers of world famous director Emir Kusturica

• To see some stills from film Crni Biseri - click here

• See my favorite clips from film Crni Biseri - click here

To read more about t this film, check Matica Hrvatska - Vijenac - essay on 50 yrs of Bosnian Cinematography