In the beginning of World War I, Filip, a Serbian headmaster of a primary school, is drafted. He has trouble leaving Lea, his
Slovenian wife, since they have just recently moved to the village. Azem, the school caretaker, swears a besa (an Albanian oath, sworn on life itself), that he will take care of Lea. Coming from completely different cultures and environments, the Catholic Lea and Muslim Azem are forced to live together. The relationship between them slowly develops into an unexpected and forbidden love.
Besa is an exciting, unusual, fierce and sometimes even funny story about two people who had absolutely nothing in common except their feelings. The film is conceived as a subtle, intimate love story, which takes place in the former multi-ethnic Kingdom of Serbia. Except for the beginning and end, the film unfolds inside an empty school. The inevitable – and intentional – claustrophobia contributes considerably to the dramatic tension and desired development of the story, while certain situations and rituals in the film are repeated rhythmically…
Srđan Karanović, director and writer
Gospodar jevremova 35/9
11000 Beograd
Srbija / Serbia
Tel.: +381 11303 4441 / 303 4486 / 328 6980 / 328 3691
Fax: +381 11 328 3691
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Slovenija / Slovenia
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info@film-center.si
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