Davor Dujmovic
Encyclopedia
Davor Dujmović was a Yugoslav
actor best known for his memorable roles in Emir Kusturica
's movies as Mirza in When Father Was Away on Business
, Perhan in Time of the Gypsies
and Bata in Underground.
and one of his two assistant director
s, Miroslav Mandić, ran into young Davor at a Sarajevo
kafana
near Markale marketplace. Dujmović happened to be there with his father who operated a food stand at the marketplace. Kusturica was casting roles for When Father Was Away on Business at the time, and immediately thought 14-year-old Davor could potentially be perfect for the role of Mirza (older son in the movie). After jointly convincing his father to let him audition, Kusturica and Mandić arranged a screen test which Dujmović aced and got cast in the movie.
Following the film's great critical acclaim and commercial success, Dujmović attempted to enroll in the film academy but after not getting accepted on his first try, he never tried again. He continued to get roles, though, such as the one in Zlatko Lavanić's (another one of Kusturica's ADs
) directorial debut Strategija svrake. Kusturica also continued working with Dujmović, giving him a lead in Time of the Gypsies
- a movie that would make Davor well known across former Yugoslavia for his indelible portrayal of a young Gypsy named Perhan. He also started doing theatre, appearing in the production of Mjesečeva predstava.
The role of Perhan made him a recognazible star and ensured film roles would continue coming his way - Adam ledolomak, Aleksa Šantić, Belle epoque - Posljednji valcer u Sarajevu, Sarajevske priče, Prokleta je Amerika. During this time he also became a cast member for the third season of the Yugoslav comedy TV sketch show Top lista nadrealista
. The series aired in late 1991.
Simultaneously, during the early 1990s Davor started using hard drugs and quickly developed into a full-fledged heroin addict. During the first months of the war he stayed in Sarajevo, but later moved to Belgrade
where he rejoined old friends, filming Underground with Kusturica as well as Složna braća
TV series with Nele Karajlić
. He unsuccessfully tried to kick his drug habit several times. At the end of the war he moved to Banja Luka
where he met up with Andrej J. Gartner with whom he started the Culture of Republika Srpska
trust fund. He spent his last months with his girlfriend in Slovenia
.
Davor Dujmović committed suicide by hanging on May 31, 1999, following a severe depression. His last days were spent in Slovenian town of Novo Mesto
.
Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
actor best known for his memorable roles in Emir Kusturica
Emir Kusturica
Emir Nemanja Kusturica , is a Serbian filmmaker, actor and musician, recognized for several internationally acclaimed feature films...
's movies as Mirza in When Father Was Away on Business
When Father Was Away on Business
When Father Was Away on Business is a 1985 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Emir Kusturica. The screenplay was written by the Bosnian dramatist Abdulah Sidran...
, Perhan in Time of the Gypsies
Time of the Gypsies
Time of the Gypsies is a 1988 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Emir Kusturica. Filmed in Romani and Serbian, Time of the Gypsies tells the story of a young Romani man with magical powers who is tricked into engaging in petty crime...
and Bata in Underground.
Career
Born into a poor working class family, Dujmović's acting career started purely by chance in 1984 when Emir KusturicaEmir Kusturica
Emir Nemanja Kusturica , is a Serbian filmmaker, actor and musician, recognized for several internationally acclaimed feature films...
and one of his two assistant director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
s, Miroslav Mandić, ran into young Davor at a Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
kafana
Kafana
Kafana , kafeana , kavana are terms used in the former Yugoslav countries for a distinct type of local bistro which primarily serves alcoholic beverages and coffee , and which sometimes also has a live band.The concept of a social gathering place for men to drink...
near Markale marketplace. Dujmović happened to be there with his father who operated a food stand at the marketplace. Kusturica was casting roles for When Father Was Away on Business at the time, and immediately thought 14-year-old Davor could potentially be perfect for the role of Mirza (older son in the movie). After jointly convincing his father to let him audition, Kusturica and Mandić arranged a screen test which Dujmović aced and got cast in the movie.
Following the film's great critical acclaim and commercial success, Dujmović attempted to enroll in the film academy but after not getting accepted on his first try, he never tried again. He continued to get roles, though, such as the one in Zlatko Lavanić's (another one of Kusturica's ADs
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
) directorial debut Strategija svrake. Kusturica also continued working with Dujmović, giving him a lead in Time of the Gypsies
Time of the Gypsies
Time of the Gypsies is a 1988 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Emir Kusturica. Filmed in Romani and Serbian, Time of the Gypsies tells the story of a young Romani man with magical powers who is tricked into engaging in petty crime...
- a movie that would make Davor well known across former Yugoslavia for his indelible portrayal of a young Gypsy named Perhan. He also started doing theatre, appearing in the production of Mjesečeva predstava.
The role of Perhan made him a recognazible star and ensured film roles would continue coming his way - Adam ledolomak, Aleksa Šantić, Belle epoque - Posljednji valcer u Sarajevu, Sarajevske priče, Prokleta je Amerika. During this time he also became a cast member for the third season of the Yugoslav comedy TV sketch show Top lista nadrealista
Top lista nadrealista
Top lista nadrealista also known as Nadrealisti was a comedy radio broadcast on Radio Sarajevo during early 1980s and later a sketch comedy and variety show on TV Sarajevo in three separate installments from 1984 until 1991.'Top lista nadrealista' started as a segment on Boro Kontić's programme...
. The series aired in late 1991.
Simultaneously, during the early 1990s Davor started using hard drugs and quickly developed into a full-fledged heroin addict. During the first months of the war he stayed in Sarajevo, but later moved to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
where he rejoined old friends, filming Underground with Kusturica as well as Složna braća
Složna braca
Složna braća is a 1995 Serbian television comedy series. Created and written by Nele Karajlić and directed by Karajlić, Oleg Novković, and Nikola Pejaković the series achieved sizable popularity.-Overview:...
TV series with Nele Karajlić
Nele Karajlic
dr. Nele Karajlić a.k.a. Nele Karajlić, born on December 11, 1962 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, , is a Bosnian Serb rock and roll musician, composer, actor and television director living and working in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia.One of the founders of New Primitivism movement in Sarajevo,...
. He unsuccessfully tried to kick his drug habit several times. At the end of the war he moved to Banja Luka
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
where he met up with Andrej J. Gartner with whom he started the Culture of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
trust fund. He spent his last months with his girlfriend in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
Davor Dujmović committed suicide by hanging on May 31, 1999, following a severe depression. His last days were spent in Slovenian town of Novo Mesto
Novo Mesto
Novo Mesto is a city and municipality in southeastern Slovenia, close to the border with Croatia. The town is traditionally considered the economic and cultural centre of the historic Lower Carniola region.-Geography:...
.
Filmography
- Underground (1996) as Bata
- Složna braćaSložna bracaSložna braća is a 1995 Serbian television comedy series. Created and written by Nele Karajlić and directed by Karajlić, Oleg Novković, and Nikola Pejaković the series achieved sizable popularity.-Overview:...
(TV series, 1995) as Mustafa "Mute" Halimić - Aleksa ŠantićAleksa ŠanticAleksa Šantić was a Serb poet from Herzegovina.He was born and lived most his life in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, a province that was occupied by Austria-Hungary in 1878 and annexed by them in 1908...
(TV series, 1992) - Prokleta je Amerika (1992)
- Sarajevske priče (TV series, 1991) as Boban Kokot
- Praznik u SarajevuPraznik u SarajevuPraznik u Sarajevu is a 1991 film set in Western Europe and Sarajevo, with a set of Sarajevan thieves returning home for the Christmas holidays. It was directed by Benjamin Filipović and written by Abdulah Sidran....
(1991) - Top lista nadrealistaTop lista nadrealistaTop lista nadrealista also known as Nadrealisti was a comedy radio broadcast on Radio Sarajevo during early 1980s and later a sketch comedy and variety show on TV Sarajevo in three separate installments from 1984 until 1991.'Top lista nadrealista' started as a segment on Boro Kontić's programme...
(TV series, 1990–1991) as various characters - Belle epoque - Posljednji valcer u Sarajevu (1990) as Gavrilo PrincipGavrilo PrincipGavrilo Princip was the Bosnian Serb who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914...
- Adam ledolomak (1990)
- Istočno od istoka (1990)
- Time of the GypsiesTime of the GypsiesTime of the Gypsies is a 1988 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Emir Kusturica. Filmed in Romani and Serbian, Time of the Gypsies tells the story of a young Romani man with magical powers who is tricked into engaging in petty crime...
(1988) as Perhan - Strategija švrake (1987)
- When Father Was Away on BusinessWhen Father Was Away on BusinessWhen Father Was Away on Business is a 1985 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Emir Kusturica. The screenplay was written by the Bosnian dramatist Abdulah Sidran...
(1985) as Brother Mirza