Skinning (film)
Encyclopedia
Skinning is a 2010 Serbian film
directed by Stefan Filipović
. It premiered on 6 October 2010 in Sava Centar in Belgrade.
by ethnic Albanians inhabiting Serbia's southern province of Kosovo
. This actual footage is intercut with shots of the movie's main protagonist, skinhead Novica, protesting by leading chants and lighting flares in front of the embassy while he's also providing narration.
The story than backs up as Novica (Nikola Rakočević), a timid and geeky high school
student with frumpy clothing and disheveld thick hair, is introduced. He lives in Belgrade where his life revolves around attending advanced math classes for gifted kids and taking part in math competitions. Due to his awkwardness around people, his social life is nothing to speak of - his only friends are his stoner cousin Mirko (Miloš Tanasković) as well as an even nerdier math colleague Stanislav (Vladimir Tešović).
At a math competition as the students are working away solving problems, Novica is pressured into cheating by Relja, a confident skinhead full of bravado who is also gifted at math, but doesn't quite possess Novica's math problem-solving skills. Relja is seated relatively close to Novica at the competition and is stuck on a question that he can't solve. Obviously flattered by the attention from a kid placed much higher on the high school social scale, Novica passes Relja the solution written on a piece of paper. The competition supervisor notices that something untoward went down and tells Novica to report the person he'd helped without penalty to himself. Wanting to cover for Relja, Novica purposely wrongly points out nerdy Stanislav as the recipient of his help, as the supervisor throws both Novica and Stanislav out thus breaking her promise to spare Novica.
Outside, Relja is happy and impressed with Novica's behaviour under pressure, handing him a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf
as well as an invite to a lecture by professor Hadži-Tankosić (Predrag Ejdus
) at the University of Belgrade
Faculty of Philosophy
. Novica brings his cousin Mirko along who, dissatisfied with the right wing, anti-Semitic overtones, leaves the lecture early on, but Novica stays and is very much receptive to what he is hearing.
The next day Relja takes Novica to a football match since his skinheads are active as fans of FK Radnik - corrupt local minor club financed by gangster nicknamed Pufta (Srđan Miletić). Though seemingly faithful supporters of the club, they don't care much for football, mostly using the matches to raise the group's public profile and further their right wing political agenda through racist chanting, violence, and hooliganism
. Additionally, skinheads have an extremely antagonistic relationship with the club's financier Pufta and they also regularly get into fights with "Pufta's diesel boys
" - small group of fans who are on his payroll. Since he doesn't own the club, Pufta's motivation for getting involved with football is taking advantage of his vaguely defined "financier role" in order to siphon off the funds from player transfers abroad. As he conducts his business in ruthless manner, his biggest rivals are similarly run FK Kosančić, the club that also has a financier - a mafia widow. At this particular match FK Radnik is playing FK Novi Pazar
and there's no shortage of hate speech and violence as Novica and Relja, among others, get taken to the police station where they're questioned by corrupt inspector Milutin (Nikola Kojo
) and young idealistic policewoman Lidija (Nataša Šolak
) who recently joined the force. She immediately notices that Novica doesn't really fit the usual skinhead profile and encourages him to get out, even giving him her personal contact in case he needs some help.
Couple of days later, Relja formally introduces Novica to the various individuals that make up his skinhead, white supremacist group, including his sexy girlfriend Mina (Bojana Novaković
) and computer geek Svarog, all of whom hang out in an underground swastika
-adorned cave where they mostly guzzle beer and listen to hard core bands such as Direktori
. As it turns out, Novica already knows Mina from the neighbourhood (they once got jumped by a group of diesel boys, barely managing to escape) and already harbours some emotions towards her.
Very quickly Novica gets seduced into this world of racist skinheads. Hanging out one night, under the influence of alcohol, the group is walking along the river quay when they run into one of the diesel boys who's all by himself. In addition to belonging to their hated rival group, he's also a Gypsy, which makes him even more of a target in their eyes. The skinheads pin him down to the ground, giving him a beating using fists and boots. Novica is especially up for confrontation as he charges the incapacitated Gypsy with a concrete block, smashing his head with it thus killing him instantly. Shocked by the gruesome crime Novica just committed, other skinheads panic a bit before regrouping and deciding to dump the body into the river and sink with it with rocks.
Actor Dragan Mićanović
made an appearance in the film. Popular Serbian journalist and television presenter Ivon Jafali also appeared in the film as the journalist.
got some funds from the SEE Cinema Network in Thessaloniki
. The film was shot in stages, as it required great transformations of the actors, which included training in the gym and changing haircuts.
One reviewer wrote: "Skinning is an obligatory, which must be seen by almost all parents who raise a teenager in their home... Especially those whose talents are unimaginable. And especially the parents who doubt to have a genius, because the line between genius and madness is thin. Skinning divides nationalism
and false patriotism
from violence and anarchy
." Press
.
Cinema of Serbia
The Cinema of Serbia comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of Serbia or by Serbian filmmakers abroad.Serbia has been home to many internationally acclaimed films and directors.-Serbian theatre and cinema:Serbia has a well-established theatrical tradition with many...
directed by Stefan Filipović
Stefan Filipovic
Stefan Filipović is a Montenegrin pop singer.- Biography :...
. It premiered on 6 October 2010 in Sava Centar in Belgrade.
Plot
The film opens with actual footage of protests in front of American embassy in Belgrade following the Kosovo is Serbia protest rally that was held in response to 17 February 2008 unilateral declaration of independence2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo acting in personal capacity and not binding to the Assembly itself...
by ethnic Albanians inhabiting Serbia's southern province of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. This actual footage is intercut with shots of the movie's main protagonist, skinhead Novica, protesting by leading chants and lighting flares in front of the embassy while he's also providing narration.
The story than backs up as Novica (Nikola Rakočević), a timid and geeky high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
student with frumpy clothing and disheveld thick hair, is introduced. He lives in Belgrade where his life revolves around attending advanced math classes for gifted kids and taking part in math competitions. Due to his awkwardness around people, his social life is nothing to speak of - his only friends are his stoner cousin Mirko (Miloš Tanasković) as well as an even nerdier math colleague Stanislav (Vladimir Tešović).
At a math competition as the students are working away solving problems, Novica is pressured into cheating by Relja, a confident skinhead full of bravado who is also gifted at math, but doesn't quite possess Novica's math problem-solving skills. Relja is seated relatively close to Novica at the competition and is stuck on a question that he can't solve. Obviously flattered by the attention from a kid placed much higher on the high school social scale, Novica passes Relja the solution written on a piece of paper. The competition supervisor notices that something untoward went down and tells Novica to report the person he'd helped without penalty to himself. Wanting to cover for Relja, Novica purposely wrongly points out nerdy Stanislav as the recipient of his help, as the supervisor throws both Novica and Stanislav out thus breaking her promise to spare Novica.
Outside, Relja is happy and impressed with Novica's behaviour under pressure, handing him a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is a book written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitler's political ideology. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926...
as well as an invite to a lecture by professor Hadži-Tankosić (Predrag Ejdus
Predrag Ejdus
Predrag Ejdus is an actor from Serbia of Yugoslav ethnicity. He won the Statuette of Joakim Vujić and received the Dobričin prsten in 2008....
) at the University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
Faculty of Philosophy
University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy
The University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Serbia, founded in the early 19th century within the Belgrade Higher School...
. Novica brings his cousin Mirko along who, dissatisfied with the right wing, anti-Semitic overtones, leaves the lecture early on, but Novica stays and is very much receptive to what he is hearing.
The next day Relja takes Novica to a football match since his skinheads are active as fans of FK Radnik - corrupt local minor club financed by gangster nicknamed Pufta (Srđan Miletić). Though seemingly faithful supporters of the club, they don't care much for football, mostly using the matches to raise the group's public profile and further their right wing political agenda through racist chanting, violence, and hooliganism
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
. Additionally, skinheads have an extremely antagonistic relationship with the club's financier Pufta and they also regularly get into fights with "Pufta's diesel boys
Chav
A chav is a term that is used in the United Kingdom to describe a stereotype of teenagers and young adults from an underclass background.-Etymology:...
" - small group of fans who are on his payroll. Since he doesn't own the club, Pufta's motivation for getting involved with football is taking advantage of his vaguely defined "financier role" in order to siphon off the funds from player transfers abroad. As he conducts his business in ruthless manner, his biggest rivals are similarly run FK Kosančić, the club that also has a financier - a mafia widow. At this particular match FK Radnik is playing FK Novi Pazar
FK Novi Pazar
FK Novi Pazar is a football club based in the city of Novi Pazar, the largest city in the Sandžak region . The team currently plays in the Serbian SuperLiga, which is the top division of the Serbian football league system. Current president of FK Novi Pazar is Rasim Ljajić, Minister for Welfare in...
and there's no shortage of hate speech and violence as Novica and Relja, among others, get taken to the police station where they're questioned by corrupt inspector Milutin (Nikola Kojo
Nikola Kojo
Nikola Kojo is a Serbian actor.Kojo grew up in front of the camera and acted in his first movie at the age of 11. Since then he has been featured in more than 45 movies and TV series, including "Mi nismo anđeli" being one of his most notable films...
) and young idealistic policewoman Lidija (Nataša Šolak
Nataša Šolak
Nataša Tapušković , maiden name Šolak is a Serbian actress. The blonde green-eyed actress is most recognized for her role as Bosnian hostage, Sabaha, in Emir Kusturica's Life Is a Miracle, in 2004.-External links:...
) who recently joined the force. She immediately notices that Novica doesn't really fit the usual skinhead profile and encourages him to get out, even giving him her personal contact in case he needs some help.
Couple of days later, Relja formally introduces Novica to the various individuals that make up his skinhead, white supremacist group, including his sexy girlfriend Mina (Bojana Novaković
Bojana Novakovic
Bojana Novakovic is a Serbian Australian actress who works in Australia and the United States.-Early and personal life:Novakovic was born in 1981 in Serbia. She moved to Australia in 1988, at the age of seven. Novakovic was initially interested in becoming a social worker or doctor, but after a...
) and computer geek Svarog, all of whom hang out in an underground swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
-adorned cave where they mostly guzzle beer and listen to hard core bands such as Direktori
Direktori
Direktori is a Serbian oi! punk/ska group from Belgrade.-1989 – 1999:During the spring of 1989, vocalist Nebojša Drakula, with the former Varšavski Geto member Miroslav Pilipović "Trta" on guitar, former Pogrebni Zavod member Srđan Marić on bass guitar and former Hogari member Dragan "Rale"...
. As it turns out, Novica already knows Mina from the neighbourhood (they once got jumped by a group of diesel boys, barely managing to escape) and already harbours some emotions towards her.
Very quickly Novica gets seduced into this world of racist skinheads. Hanging out one night, under the influence of alcohol, the group is walking along the river quay when they run into one of the diesel boys who's all by himself. In addition to belonging to their hated rival group, he's also a Gypsy, which makes him even more of a target in their eyes. The skinheads pin him down to the ground, giving him a beating using fists and boots. Novica is especially up for confrontation as he charges the incapacitated Gypsy with a concrete block, smashing his head with it thus killing him instantly. Shocked by the gruesome crime Novica just committed, other skinheads panic a bit before regrouping and deciding to dump the body into the river and sink with it with rocks.
Cast
- Nikola Rakočević as Novica
- Viktor Savić as Relja
- Bojana NovakovićBojana NovakovicBojana Novakovic is a Serbian Australian actress who works in Australia and the United States.-Early and personal life:Novakovic was born in 1981 in Serbia. She moved to Australia in 1988, at the age of seven. Novakovic was initially interested in becoming a social worker or doctor, but after a...
as Mina - Nikola KojoNikola KojoNikola Kojo is a Serbian actor.Kojo grew up in front of the camera and acted in his first movie at the age of 11. Since then he has been featured in more than 45 movies and TV series, including "Mi nismo anđeli" being one of his most notable films...
as Milutin - Nataša ŠolakNataša ŠolakNataša Tapušković , maiden name Šolak is a Serbian actress. The blonde green-eyed actress is most recognized for her role as Bosnian hostage, Sabaha, in Emir Kusturica's Life Is a Miracle, in 2004.-External links:...
as Lidija - Predrag EjdusPredrag EjdusPredrag Ejdus is an actor from Serbia of Yugoslav ethnicity. He won the Statuette of Joakim Vujić and received the Dobričin prsten in 2008....
as Professor Hadži–Tankosić - Milan Mihailović as Novica's father
Actor Dragan Mićanović
Dragan Mićanović
Dragan Mićanović is a Serbian actor. International audiences probably best know him for his roles in the films Layer Cake , The White Countess and RocknRolla . Mićanović played his first role abroad in Hamlet at the Globe Theatre.-Personal life:Mićanović was married to Serbian actress Ana...
made an appearance in the film. Popular Serbian journalist and television presenter Ivon Jafali also appeared in the film as the journalist.
Production
The pre–production of Skinning began in 2007. The director Stefan FilipovićStefan Filipovic
Stefan Filipović is a Montenegrin pop singer.- Biography :...
got some funds from the SEE Cinema Network in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
. The film was shot in stages, as it required great transformations of the actors, which included training in the gym and changing haircuts.
Reception
The film grossed €30,193 during its opening weekend in Serbia. As of 29 November 2010, it grossed €171,052. It ended its theatrical run in Serbia in late February 2011, grossing the total of US$288,512.One reviewer wrote: "Skinning is an obligatory, which must be seen by almost all parents who raise a teenager in their home... Especially those whose talents are unimaginable. And especially the parents who doubt to have a genius, because the line between genius and madness is thin. Skinning divides nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
and false patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
from violence and anarchy
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
." Press
Press (newspaper)
Press is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Belgrade.Press Publishing Group also owns a daily aimed at businesspeople called Biznis, as well as a lifestyle weekly magazine Lola and a glossy monthly magazine called FAME...
.