Tomislav Pinter
Encyclopedia
Tomislav Pinter was an award-winning Croatia
n cinematographer, regarded as the most significant cinematographer in Croatian cinema
due to the artistic quality of his work and his prolific career spanning almost five decades.
After finishing high school Pinter enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb
in 1946 to study painting, but he soon dropped out and devoted himself entirely to cinematography. He began working at the Jadran Film
studio in 1945, at first assisting more experienced cinematographers, and in 1948 he started working independently. He started shooting documentary shorts in the early 1950s and his first feature was the 1960 film Point 905 (Kota 905, directed by Mate Relja).
Throughout the 1960s and onwards Pinter became the most prolific Croatian cinematographer, filming some 90 feature films, around 100 short films and some 10 television series. Some of his critically praised works include:
Pinter received many awards for his work in film, including three Vladimir Nazor Award
s and eight Golden Arena for Cinematography awards at the Pula Film Festival
(the Yugoslav equivalent of Academy Awards
), which made him by far the most decorated cinematographer in both Yugoslav and Croatian cinema
.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n cinematographer, regarded as the most significant cinematographer in Croatian cinema
Cinema of Croatia
The cinema of Croatia has a somewhat shorter tradition than what is common for other Central European countries: the serious beginning of Croatian cinema starts with the rise of the Yugoslavian film industry in the 1940s...
due to the artistic quality of his work and his prolific career spanning almost five decades.
After finishing high school Pinter enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb
Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb
The Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb is a Croatian art school affiliated with the University of Zagreb.The Academy was established in June 1907 as the Royal College for Arts and Crafts and initially had three departments, for sculpting, painting and art education...
in 1946 to study painting, but he soon dropped out and devoted himself entirely to cinematography. He began working at the Jadran Film
Jadran Film
Jadran Film is a film production studio and distribution company founded in 1946 in Zagreb, Croatia. In the period between the early 1960s and late 1980s Jadran Film was one of the biggest and most notable film studios in Central Europe, with some 145 international and around 120 Yugoslav...
studio in 1945, at first assisting more experienced cinematographers, and in 1948 he started working independently. He started shooting documentary shorts in the early 1950s and his first feature was the 1960 film Point 905 (Kota 905, directed by Mate Relja).
Throughout the 1960s and onwards Pinter became the most prolific Croatian cinematographer, filming some 90 feature films, around 100 short films and some 10 television series. Some of his critically praised works include:
- In Vatroslav MimicaVatroslav MimicaVatroslav Mimica is an award-winning Croatian film director and screenwriter.Mimica had enrolled at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine before the outbreak of World War II. In 1942 he joined Young Communist League of Yugoslavia and in 1943 he went on to join the Yugoslav Partisans,...
's 1965 film Prometheus of the IslandPrometheus of the IslandPrometheus of the Island , also known in English as Prometheus from the island of Viševica, is a 1964 Yugoslav film directed by Vatroslav Mimica....
, where he used a 10 ASA negative film stock which achieved a documentary feel of shots showing plot jumps in time, - In Zvonimir BerkovićZvonimir BerkovićZvonimir Berković was a Croatian film director and screenwriter.Berković had studied film directing at the Zagreb Academy of Drama Arts...
's 1966 film RondoRondo (film)Rondo is a 1966 Yugoslavian film by Croatian director Zvonimir Berković. It was filmed in Zagreb, Croatia .-Plot:...
, where he used diffused lighting and shot composition to successfully illustrate characters' inner life, - In Ante BabajaAnte BabajaAnte Babaja was a notable Croatian film director and screenwriter.Babaja finished high school in Zagreb before going on to enrol at the University of Zagreb where he studied law and economy...
's 1967 film The Birch TreeThe Birch Tree (film)The Birch Tree is a 1967 Yugoslav film directed by Ante Babaja.The film won two Golden Arena awards at the 1967 Pula Film Festival, the Yugoslav national film awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Actor ....
, where he combined wide-angle and narrow-angle shots with saturated colors which together produced a visual style mimicking naïve paintingNaïve artNaïve art is a classification of art that is often characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique. While many naïve artists appear, from their works, to have little or no formal art training, this is often not true...
).
Pinter received many awards for his work in film, including three Vladimir Nazor Award
Vladimir Nazor award
The Vladimir Nazor Award is an annual award given by the Croatian Ministry of Culture to Croatian artists for highest achievements in various artistic fields. It was established in 1959 and is named after the notable writer Vladimir Nazor...
s and eight Golden Arena for Cinematography awards at the Pula Film Festival
Pula Film Festival
The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....
(the Yugoslav equivalent of Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
), which made him by far the most decorated cinematographer in both Yugoslav and Croatian cinema
Cinema of Croatia
The cinema of Croatia has a somewhat shorter tradition than what is common for other Central European countries: the serious beginning of Croatian cinema starts with the rise of the Yugoslavian film industry in the 1940s...
.
Selected filmography
- Point 905Point 905Point 905 is a Croatian film directed by Mate Relja. It was released in 1960....
(1960) - Alphabet of FearAlphabet of FearAlphabet of Fear is a Croatian film directed by Fadil Hadžić. It was released in 1961....
(1961) - Double CircleDouble CircleDouble Circle is a Croatian film directed by Nikola Tanhofer. It was released in 1963....
(1963) - ThreeThree (1965 film)Three is a 1965 Yugoslav film directed by Aleksandar Petrović. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 39th Academy Awards.-Cast:* Bata Živojinović as Miloš Bojanić* Nikola-Kole Angelovski* Stole Aranđelović...
(1965) - Prometheus of the IslandPrometheus of the IslandPrometheus of the Island , also known in English as Prometheus from the island of Viševica, is a 1964 Yugoslav film directed by Vatroslav Mimica....
(1965) - Monday or TuesdayMonday or Tuesday (film)Monday or Tuesday is an acclaimed 1966 Yugoslav drama film directed by Vatroslav Mimica starring Slobodan Dimitrijević. The film's title is a famous quote from Virginia Woolf's 1919 work Modern Fiction in which she described her approach to writing: "Examine for a moment an ordinary mind on an...
(1966) - RondoRondo (film)Rondo is a 1966 Yugoslavian film by Croatian director Zvonimir Berković. It was filmed in Zagreb, Croatia .-Plot:...
(1966) - The Birch TreeThe Birch Tree (film)The Birch Tree is a 1967 Yugoslav film directed by Ante Babaja.The film won two Golden Arena awards at the 1967 Pula Film Festival, the Yugoslav national film awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Actor ....
(1967) - I Even Met Happy GypsiesI Even Met Happy GypsiesI Even Met Happy Gypsies is a 1967 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Aleksandar Petrović. Its original Serbian title is Skupljači perja, which means The Feather Gatherers. The film is centered around Roma people's life in a village in northern Vojvodina, but it also deals with subtler themes such...
(1967) - Battle of Neretva (1969)
- The Way to ParadiseThe Way to Paradise (film)The Way to Paradise is a Croatian film directed by Mario Fanelli. It was released in 1970....
(1970) - TimonTimon (film)Timon is a Croatian film. It was released in 1973. It was directed by Dobriša Cesarić....
(1973) - The Battle of SutjeskaThe Battle of Sutjeska (film)The Battle of Sutjeska is a partisan film directed by Stipe Delić, and made in SFR Yugoslavia. It tells the story of the famous Battle of Sutjeska, the greatest engagement of the Yugoslav Partisan War. It is one of the most expensive films made in Yugoslavia.-Plot synopsis:Nazi-occupied Bosnia and...
(1973) - Private Vices, Public PleasuresPrivate Vices, Public PleasuresPrivate Vices, Public Pleasures is a 1976 Italian-Yugoslavian drama film directed by Miklós Jancsó. It was entered into the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Lajos Balázsovits as Crown Prince Rudolf* Pamela Villoresi as Sofia...
(1976) - The Widowhood of Karolina ZaslerThe Widowhood of Karolina ZaslerThe Widowhood of Karolina Žašler is a 1976 Yugoslavian comedy film directed by Matjaž Klopčič. It was entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Marija Backo* Polde Bibic - Zasler* Miranda Caharija - Korl's wife...
(1976) - SnowstormSnowstorm (film)Snowstorm is a Croatian film directed by Antun Vrdoljak. It was released in 1977....
(1977) - See You in the Next WarSee You in the Next WarSee You in the Next War is a 1980 Yugoslav war film directed by Živojin Pavlović. It competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival....
(1980) - Petria's WreathPetria's WreathPetria's Wreath , is a 1980 Yugoslav film directed by Srđan Karanović.It won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film, with Mirjana Karanović picking up the Golden Arena for Best Actress at the 1980 Pula Film Festival....
(1980)
- The Melody Haunts My MemoryThe Melody Haunts My MemoryThe Melody Haunts My Memory is a 1981 Yugoslavian drama film directed by Rajko Grlić. It competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Miki Manojlović - Tomislav...
(1981) - MontenegroMontenegro (film)Montenegro also known as Montenegro - Or Pigs and Pearls is a Swedish black comedy film by Yugoslav director Dušan Makavejev.-Plot:Marianne Faithfull sings "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" over the opening credit sequence....
(1981) - In the Jaws of LifeIn the Jaws of LifeIn the Jaws of Life is a 1984 Croatian film directed by Rajko Grlić.The film was released on VHS in the United States by Facets Video in November 1998.-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(1984) - Transylvania 6-5000Transylvania 6-5000 (1985 film)Transylvania 6-5000 is a movie about two tabloid reporters who travel to modern-day Transylvania to uncover the truth behind Frankenstein sightings. Along the way, they encounter other horror movie staples — a mummy, a werewolf, a vampire — each with a twist.Directed by Rudy De Luca, the film...
(1985) - Dancing in Water (1987)
- CrusoeCrusoe (1989 film)Crusoe is a 1989 film directed by Caleb Deschanel. It is a variation on the story told in the novel Robinson Crusoe, written by author Daniel Defoe. The film stars Aidan Quinn as Crusoe.-Plot:...
(1988) - That Summer of White RosesThat Summer of White RosesThat Summer of White Roses is a 1989 Yugoslav-British film directed by Rajko Grlić.-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...
(1989) - The Meeting Point (1989)
- Silent Gunpowder (1990)
- KontaktKontakt (film)Kontakt is a 2005 Macedonian film directed by Sergej Stanojkovski. It was Macedonia's submission to the 79th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.-See also:...
(2005) - LibertasLibertas (film)Libertas is a 2006 Croatian-Italian co-production film directed by Veljko Bulajić. It is a biographical film about the 16th-century playwright Marin Držić and his conflict with authorities of the Republic of Ragusa....
(2006)
External links
- Tomislav Pinter biography at Filmski-Programi.hr
- Article about Tomislav Pinter at Jutarnji.hrJutarnji listJutarnji list is a daily newspaper in Croatia with a circulation of about 115,000 copies.It was launched in April 1998, becoming the first successful Croatian daily newspaper to appear since the 1950s. It was named after a Zagreb daily that used to circulate before WW2...
- Tomislav Pinter biography at the FIPRESCI Serbia official website